Brit cops offer to help find teenager Jay Slater, 19, missing for five days – but Tenerife cops refuse
Police, firefighters and search and rescue personnel combed a vast area of land today
LANCASHIRE Police said it has offered to help find missing teenager Jay Slater – but local cops refused.
Jay, from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, disappeared in Tenerife following an attempt to walk back to his accommodation after missing a bus.
The 19-year-old had attended the NRG music festival on the island with two friends before his disappearance.
Now Lancashire Constabulary has offered to support Guardia Civil in their efforts to find the teenager.
However local police rejected the proposition as they have the “resources” required.
A statement read: “First and foremost, our thoughts are with Jay’s family at this time.
“They must be going through the most distressing ordeal not knowing what has happened to their loved one.
“We have specialist officers who are continuing to support Jay’s family.
“Whilst this case falls outside the jurisdiction of UK policing, we have made an offer of support to the Guardia Civil to see if they need any additional resources.
“They have confirmed that at this time they are satisfied that they have the resources they need, but that offer remains open and they will contact us should that position change.
“Once again, our thoughts remain with Jay’s family and friends at this distressing time.”
It comes as police, firefighters and search and rescue personnel combed a vast area of land in and around the village of Masca on Friday.
Search and rescue personnel carefully looked through dead palm trees covering a river at the bottom of the hillside near to an Airbnb property he had reportedly been driven to.
The owner of the property, who gave her name as Ophelia, told reporters she saw Jay walk up the road past her property but did not see him again after that – describing the situation as worrying.
A post was issued on Facebook on Friday which said Jay’s family and friends were “drained beyond words”.
Helicopters, rescue dogs and drones have been used in an effort to find the teenager, who was last heard from when he called his friend Lucy Law on Monday morning.
Officers have since been seen peering over the hillside and staring intently at the landscape through binoculars near to his last known location close to the village of Masca.
The walk from Jay’s last known location to his accommodation would have taken about 11 hours on foot.
It comes as…
- Bombshell new vid shows Jay at a rave hours being he vanished
- Pics show Airbnb teen partied at before going missing
- Jay was spotted ‘walking alone’ by locals
- Jay’s mum was sent a message saying “kiss goodbye to your son” amid family fears he’s been kidnapped
- She gave a tearful plea and said “I just want my baby back”
- His family have endured days of bogus theories and sick messages from trolls
- Cops searched the teen’s hotel room in Tenerife for clues on Wednesday
On the fifth day of the hunt for Jay, search teams paid close attention to a river called Barranco Madre del Agua at the bottom of a ravine, where personnel with sticks carefully searched through fallen dead trees.
They later moved to other areas, focusing a lot of their resources in an area near Rural de Teno park.
In a post on the Facebook page called Jay Slater Missing, the administrator of the group Rachel Louise Harg said family and friends of Jay were in a “living nightmare”.
She said: “There isn’t an update for anyone unfortunately.
“Struggling to find words at this time but all I can say is we are looking still and everyone is doing all they can.
“We are drained beyond words – I just can’t say no more, I wish I could.
“I wish this would end now, this living nightmare.
“Searches are ongoing and we remain positive.
“Thanks to you all supporting and helping we can’t thank you any more, much love.”
Footage released by the Guardia Civil on Thursday showed the views from a helicopter as it scoured the hillside.
The video, posted to the force’s X, formerly Twitter, account, showed officers searching in bushes and overgrown terrain with dogs.
Ms Law, who attended the NRG music festival with jay, said he called her at about 8.30am on Monday and told her he was “lost in the mountains, he wasn’t aware of his surroundings, he desperately needed a drink and his phone was on 1 per cent”.
Jay’s mother, Debbie Duncan, who flew to Tenerife on Tuesday, said searching for her son was “an absolute living nightmare”.
Ms Duncan told ITV News: “He’s the life and soul, he’s a beautiful boy.”
Jay was last seen wearing a white T-shirt with shorts and trainers and with a black bag.
A fundraiser set up by Ms Law to “get Jay Slater home” has since received more than £24,500 in donations.
A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesman said: “We are supporting the family of a British man who has been reported missing in Spain and are in contact with the local authorities.”
