American tourist from Long Island died in Greece, his family says

NEW YORK – An American tourist who died in Greece has been identified as a Long Island resident. 

The body of Toby Sheets, a Floral Park resident for more than 20 years, was found on a beach on the Greek island of Mathraki Sunday, his family told CBS News. 

Sheets disappeared June 11 at a cafe on the small, heavily wooded island, which has a rocky coastline and a few restaurants. It’s located about 45 minutes off the coast of Corfu.  

An autopsy is expected to determine his cause of death. 

Sheets, 55, worked as the longtime assistant trainer to horse racing Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, the leading horse trainer in North America by wins. His father told CBS News Sheets was “a very hard worker and he was doing what he loved, training horses” and “will be dearly missed.” 

“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 Patrick McKenna of the New York Racing Association.   

Sheets, 55, was a native of Arkansas. He was one of six tourists who have died or gone missing in Greece since June 5 during a string of heat waves there. Temperatures have risen to 109 degrees Fahrenheit in Athens.