Former Los Angeles Deputy Sheriff Disappears While Hiking on Greek Island

A search and rescue operation is underway to find a 59-year-old American man who went missing Tuesday after failing to return from a hike on a Greek island.

Former Los Angeles Sheriff's Department deputy Albert Calibet failed to return from a hike on the Greek island of Amorgos amid extreme heat, with temperatures topping 100 degrees Fahrenheit. He was hiking from Aegiali to Katapola, which takes about four hours.

Calibet is believed to have started his hike at 7 a.m. local time on Tuesday and was last seen at 11 a.m. by hikers he met on a trail, according to Hellenic Police.

A woman who runs a small refreshment stand told police she saw him around 11 a.m. Tuesday, providing him with water and refreshments.

He was due to meet a friend between noon and 1pm at the end of a trail, but Calibet never arrived at the meeting point, Hellenic Police said.

The friend tried to call Calibet on his phone, but there was no answer, so the friend reported him missing to local authorities.

Calibet is said to have visited the island several times and is very familiar with the trail and the area.

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A Greek firefighter helicopter and a drone are taking part in an aerial search for Calibet in ravines and areas inaccessible on foot, while rescue teams have already covered the trail twice, according to police.

Locals familiar with the rugged terrain, including shepherds, are all involved. The search has been described as “extensive”, with the operation now focusing beyond the trail now that it has been thoroughly inspected, Kalliopi Despotidl, deputy mayor of Amogros island, told ABC News.

The landscape varies around the trail where Calibet disappeared, with some rocky cliffs and gorges, according to Despotidl.

“The land is not flat. The path from Aegiali to Katapola is marked and well traveled. But it is possible that he left the marked area, which is why they expanded their search,” Despotidl said.

The deputy mayor also said Calibet was well known on the island, saying she had seen him coming to Amorgos for at least 10 years. He is a regular visitor and loves hiking. “He knows the trails better than me,” she said.

Calibet joined the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department in 1998 and has remained employed part-time since his retirement in 2018, according to the department.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with Deputy Calibet’s family and friends and we hope to bring him home safe and sound,” said Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna. “We are actively working with several agencies overseas to provide assistance in the search for Deputy Calibet and will use every resource we have to bring him back to those who love him.”

The brother of the missing American, Oliver Calibet, and the girlfriend of the missing American, Debbie LaShane, arrived in Greece on Friday to assist in the search and rescue efforts for Albert Calibet.

LaShane and Albert Calibet spoke on the phone just before he left for the hike Tuesday morning, LaShane told ABC News.

“He called me just before he left for the hike. … It was 7:07 a.m. [a.m.] in Greece, then we talked for six minutes, then he sent me a picture at 9:20 [a.m.] at the start of the trail with the sign. And we haven’t spoken since,” LaShane said.

It's been “excruciating; horrible. Walking around in a daze, with stomach aches knowing he's out there somewhere,” LaShane said.

“The weather is a key factor because it's the fourth day, so it's not good. But we are very positive,” said Oliver Calibet.

Former Los Angeles Deputy Sheriff Disappears While Hiking on Greek Island