Jay Slater: Week-long search for man missing in Tenerife continues

The search for a British teenager who has gone missing in Tenerife has been ongoing for seven days.

Jay Slater, hailing from Oswaldtwistle in Lancashire, disappeared last week following his attendance at a music festival on the Spanish island.

The teenager, who is 19 years old, has not been in contact with anyone since he phoned a friend on Monday. He mentioned that he was lost and in need of water.

On Sunday morning, search teams were observed concentrating on several small structures close to the last known location of his phone.

Expert dog teams have also been deployed to search for Mr. Slater.

The Spanish authorities did not make any statements when questioned on Saturday regarding the alleged sighting of Mr. Slater the following Monday, following the phone call.

Debbie Duncan, the mother of the missing boy, has made a heartfelt request to her son, saying: "We simply want you to come back home."

This past Saturday, following five days of searching, the police, canine search teams, and firefighters returned to scour the hilly landscape at Rural de Teno National Park, where Mr. Slater was last seen.

The apprentice bricklayer's loved ones and pals have mentioned that he had previously parted ways with the group he was traveling with in the popular tourist destination of Playa de las Americas, located in the southern part of the island.

Following his departure from the NRG music festival at Papagayo night club, he joined two previously acquainted gentlemen in a vehicle to venture towards the national park located in the north-west region of Tenerife.

On Friday, we spent our time working on a mountain road nestled in the gorge of northern Tenerife, before heading to a valley in the charming village of Masca.

Dogs, law enforcement and mountain rescue teams scoured locations, including the terrain near the apartment in Masca, where Mr. Slater had allegedly visited.

According to reports, there were fewer search parties looking for Mr. Slater on Saturday than in the days before. Only a few emergency workers were spotted in Masca and the nearby areas.

It seemed like the firefighters were the ones primarily looking in these regions.

On Saturday, rescue teams, along with search dogs, started their journey on a steep path at Teno Park in the countryside.

Not directly involved in the physical search for Mr. Slater, the person in charge of a Facebook page created to aid in locating him mentioned that an individual who was not the 19-year-old had accessed his Instagram account.

Rachel Louise Harg stated that the individuals who had been gaining unauthorized access to the social media accounts of her family members were mentally disturbed.

She mentioned that a crowdfunding page had been created to aid loved ones in Tenerife who are looking for him. Contributions on the page have now surpassed £28,000.

A lot of people in Oswaldtwistle are worried about how Mr. Slater is doing.

The religious leader, Reverend Matt Smith, from the West End Methodist Church, described the Sunday service as an opportunity for the local community to unite.

While giving the sermon, he expressed concern that "as hope begins to fade... we remember his loved ones and companions - and we hope for his safe return."

Specialized officers are still providing assistance to the family of Mr. Slater, according to Lancashire Police's statement on Saturday.

The authority had mentioned that they had offered to help the Spanish police in locating him, but were informed by the police in Tenerife that they had sufficient resources.

Mr Slater went on his first trip without his family and had traveled to the festival with two of his friends.

Lucy Law, believed to be the final person to converse with him, recounted how he mentioned in their conversation that he had missed the bus and opted to trek the 10-hour trip back home. However, he found himself lost, in need of water, and with only 1% battery left on his phone.

The Teno Rural Park is located approximately 40 minutes away from where Mr. Slater and his friends were staying.

An isolated and untamed national park, it is a completely different world compared to Los Cristianos and Playa de las Americas, the bustling holiday destinations located on the southern coast of the island.

Steep gorges and towering mountains pose a challenge for the Spanish search crews as they try to navigate through the national park.

On Sunday, June 16th, Jay Slater and his buddies went to the last day of the NRG music festival at Papagayo night club in the popular tourist area of Playa de las Americas.

Monday, June 17th - Mr. Slater left Playa de las Americas between 3:00 and 6:00 BST in a car with two men he had befriended during his vacation.

07:30 - Mr. Slater shares a picture on his Snapchat account of himself standing outside a house, with the location tag Parque Rural de Teno.

Between 8:30 and 9:00, Mr. Slater contacted his friend to inform him that he had missed the bus heading south. He mentioned that he was going to try to walk the 10-hour trip instead.

The phone call suddenly ends, and the last known location of his phone indicates a trail in the mountainous Rural de Teno national park, a favorite spot for hikers.

On Tuesday, June 18th, Mr. Slater's friends looked around but couldn't find any trace of him. He never came back to where he was staying.

The police in the area and groups of rescuers from the mountains are starting to look for him. Also, his mother and brother are getting on a plane to go to Tenerife.

On Wednesday, June 19, the Spanish Guardia Civil persisted in their search efforts using drones, K9 units, and a helicopter, but unfortunately, they were unable to find any evidence.

The search briefly shifts to the Los Cristianos region in the southern part of the island because of a possible sighting. However, law enforcement quickly dismisses that lead and reverts the search back to the initial area.

On Thursday, June 20th, the Guardia Civil, mountain rescue teams, firefighters, and volunteers went back to search through the national park.

On Friday, June 21st, Lancashire Police stated that they are willing to assist in the search efforts. However, the Spanish Police have stated that they believe they have all the resources necessary for the task.

Last Saturday, the police, search and rescue dog teams, and firefighters kept searching the rugged terrain at Rural de Teno National Park.

His mother, Debbie Duncan, sends a clear message to her son, saying: "We just want you to come back home."

More information provided by Nick Garnett while in Tenerife.