The father of missing British teenager Jay Slater describes his ongoing ordeal as “a living hell” as the search for his son in Tenerife enters its second week.
Warren Slater expressed his desperation, stating, “I just want him found,” while speaking to reporters in the town of Santiago del Teide, approximately four miles (6.4 km) from where search teams are focusing their efforts.
Police presence was noted on Monday at the entrance to a mountain track near the last known location of the 19-year-old’s mobile phone. Jay Slater has not been heard from since a phone call eight days ago, during which he informed a friend that he was lost, his phone battery was dying, and he needed water.
Specialist dog teams have joined the search, concentrating on an area near a national park in northwestern Tenerife. Warren Slater has been appealing to the local community for assistance, distributing missing posters in Spanish at the tourist information center and in shop windows around Santiago del Teide, following an unconfirmed local sighting.
An emotional Warren Slater told reporters, “Somebody must know something. I just want him to be found. End of.”
Challenging Conditions in the Search
The search teams are working under challenging conditions in the Rural de Teno National Park, where Jay Slater was last known to be. Officers from the Guardia Civil were seen searching two structures at the bottom of a ravine in the park on Sunday. After days of searching the nearby village of Masca and its surrounding landscape, efforts are now primarily focused on this specific area.
When asked about the progress of the search, Tenerife police declined to comment on the ongoing investigation.
‘Needle in a Haystack’
Paul Arnott, a 29-year-old mountaineer from Flitwick, Bedfordshire, who flew out from the UK to help, described the search operation as “like looking for a needle in a haystack.” He added, “You cannot believe how steep and big an area it is until you get out here. I thought there would be more people searching, though.”
Jay Slater’s friends and family revealed that he left the group he traveled with in Playa de las Americas, a popular tourist spot on the island’s south coast. After attending the NRG music festival at Papagayo nightclub, the apprentice bricklayer got into a car with two men he had met and headed towards the national park in northwestern Tenerife.NRG, the festival organizers, described Jay’s disappearance as a “devastating situation” and expressed their hopes for his safe return.
Timeline of Events
Sunday, 16 June: Jay and friends attend the final day of the NRG music festival in Playa de las Americas.
Monday, 17 June:
- Between 03:00 and 06:00 BST: Jay leaves Playa de las Americas with two men he met during the holiday.
- 07:30: Jay posts a photograph on Snapchat, tagged at Parque Rural de Teno.
- Between 08:30 and 09:00: Jay calls a friend, stating he missed a bus, was trying to walk back, but was lost and needed water. The call cuts out, and his phone’s last location is noted on a path in Rural de Teno national park.
Tuesday, 18 June: Friends search the area, but Jay does not return. Local police and mountain rescue teams begin their search.
Wednesday, 19 June: Guardia Civil continues the search using drones, dogs, and helicopters without success. A brief search in Los Cristianos due to a potential sighting is quickly discounted.
Thursday, 20 June: The search returns to the national park with continued efforts from the Guardia Civil, mountain rescue, firefighters, and volunteers.
Friday, 21 June: Lancashire Police offers assistance, but Spanish police indicate they have adequate resources.
Saturday, 22 June: Continued search efforts involve police, rescue dog teams, and firefighters combing the terrain.
Sunday, 23 June: Police examine outbuildings at the bottom of a ravine close to Jay’s last known location.
The disappearance of Jay Slater remains a mystery, and his family, friends, and the local community are united in their hope for his safe return. His mother, Debbie Duncan, made a heartfelt plea.
