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Late television doctor Michael Mosley became "very interested" in Indigenous health issues while filming in remote New South Wales, according to a physiologist who introduced him to outback Aboriginal communities.
The body of Dr Mosley was found after a five-day search on the Greek island of Symi on Sunday local time, where he had been holidaying with his wife Clare Bailey Mosley.
Dr Bailey Mosley said the television presenter, famous for shows such as Australia's Health Revolution and Australia's Sleep Revolution, "took the wrong turn and collapsed" while walking alone along the rocky coast.
While filming Australia's Health Revolution, Dr Mosley was "blown away" by the challenges facing remote communities, according to Indigenous exercise physiologist Ray Kelly.
"We've lost a guy who has made a big impact in health across many countries, but he loved Australia, loved coming here and he was very interested in the health issues we have here," Mr Kelly told ABC News Breakfast.
In March, the first drop of Closing the Gap target data for 2024 showed life expectancy, birth weight and suicide rates were all areas of concern for Indigenous communities.
Mr Kelly, who appeared with Dr Mosley on 2021's Australia's Health Revolution and has also featured as a trainer on The Biggest Loser Australia, said Dr Mosley and Dr Bailey Mosley both took a keen interest in improving health outcomes in Indigenous communities.
"Both himself and Clare were very interested in the issues in Aboriginal communities and [were] very respectful people, really keen to learn more about it and were just blown away about what some of the communities had to deal with," he said.
"We went to some great areas and had some bush honey and a range of things. They loved it.
"The more we caught up, the more we realised we had in common and were following the same research.
"He was very interested in the great outcomes we were getting in remote Aboriginal communities."
Mr Kelly said Dr Mosley achieved such prominence in Australia due to his knack "for taking complex issues and making it in a simple format that everyday people could understand".
"Our thoughts are with Clare and the family," he said.
"They are very tight and must be going through hell right now."
Flinders University professor Danny Eckert said Dr Mosley was at the forefront of the latest science.
Dr Mosley participated in the Australian sleep treatment program developed by the Flinders University Sleep Institute last year as part of Australia's Sleep Revolution documentary.
"During the show we found that he had more than just insomnia and he literally let me stick needles into his tongue to find out what was going on and he just didn't hesitate," Professor Eckert told ABC Radio Adelaide.
Professor Eckert said Dr Mosley dedicated his life to informing the community about detailed and complicated health and science issues, putting health issues at the front of the agenda.
"He really was down to earth, very approachable with a great sense of humour, smart as a whip," Professor Eckert said.
"He was a very curious man and wasn't afraid to change his perspective when new evidence came to light, which is a rare trait in medicine and science at times.
"There's no point in doing science and medicine if you cannot get your messages out there to those who need it most and he just did that so, so incredibly well."