Coroners have released their findings on the “mystery” death of long-time horse trainer Toby Sheets.
Sheets, 55, was found dead on a Greek Island beach last Sunday with the cause of death immediately reported as unknown and headlines calling it “mysterious”.
However, Greek coroner Ioannis Aivatidis has confirmed that the much-loved American horse whisperer died from drowning on the quiet Greek island of Mathraki.
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Mathraki has a population of around 100 people and the beach where Sheets’ body was found was described as rocky and remote and called the “old port of Mathraki”.
He was last seen in a cafe on June 11 and was reported missing on June 13 after a friend had been to the place where he was staying and found the door wide open and the air conditioning on.
When the body was first identified as Sheets, his cousin, Greg Sheets, said: “He did pass away in Greece (but) as of right now that’s all we know. The family is trying to figure out what happened.”
Sheets father told CBS News that Toby was “a very hard worker and he was doing what he loved, training horses”.
“He will be dearly missed,” the father said.
Tributes have flowed for the Long Islander since news of his death was confirmed.
“New York’s horse racing community grieves the loss of Toby Sheets, and NYRA extends our condolences to Toby’s family and legion of friends.” said New York Racing Association president Patrick McKenna.
New York Thoroughbred Breeders said: “Extraordinarily kind, an outstanding horseman, and a beloved member of New York’s racing community.
“Our hearts go out to the family and countless friends of Toby Sheets … lost tragically in Greece.”
Racing identity Rick Schosberg said: “I feel completely empty …
“I had talked to him just a couple of days ago about Chestertown,” he said
“He was by far one of the best all-around horsemen I’ve ever known in 40 years on the racetrack.”
Racing photographer Barbara Livingston said: “Goodbye, Toby Sheets, a superb horseman with a truly unique, larger-than-life personality. He was, oh, so very complicated ….remarkably so …. But how 💙Toby could make so many of us laugh. And how he could be there for you if you needed a friend … Damn it.”
Sheets was a former assistant to legendary trainer and Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen.
“Toby was a part of our stable for many years, including our Belmont Stakes win with Creator, as well as his expert handling of Haynesfield among others,” Asmussen said.
“He will be deeply missed by his family and many friends.”
There has been a spate of deaths on the Greek Islands recently as temperatures soar.
In fact five more tourists have died or gone missing on Greek islands since the death of Dr Michael Mosley amid history-making hot weather.
The deaths follow that of health guru and revered Mail columnist Dr Mosley, who died on Symi after taking a wrong turn on a walk in high temperatures. His body was found on June 9 after a five-day search.
Meanwhile, searches are going on for three tourists — two French women and an American, Albert Calibet, 59 — in the Cyclades islands. Mr Calibet, a retired Los Angeles sheriff’s deputy, was last seen hiking alone in very hot conditions on Amorgos.
Two French nationals — aged 73 and 64 — are missing on the secluded island of Sikinos.