The stepfather of a British teenager missing in Tenerife says “he’s not a jerk” but he could have taken a wrong turn during the 8-hour walk back to his hotel.
Jay Slater, 19, from Lancashire, was on the holiday island for a three-day music festival and slept with people he had just met before he disappeared on his way home on Monday.
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Jay Slater (right) pictured with his brother Zak and mum Debbie – who flew to the island
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Jay, 19, pictured days before he disappeared on the island of TenerifeCredit: Instagram
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The Lancashire teenager was on the island with friends for a music festival Credit: Solarpix
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The last known location of the British teenager was Teno Rural ParkCredit: Solarpix
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He disappeared after making a desperate phone call to his long-time friend Lucy at 8am on Monday morning – saying he was “in the middle of nowhere”.
The distraught teenager said he was lost, needed water and only had 1 percent battery left on his cell phone.
His last known location was the Teno Rural Park in northwest Tenerife – a popular hiking spot among tourists.
A desperate police search is now underway, with officers and the mountain rescue service scouring the rugged landscape with drones and police helicopters.
Jay’s mum flew to Tenerife on Tuesday with Jay’s older brother to help in the frantic search.
It’s really worrying. It seems like a blob at the moment.
AndyJay’s stepfather
Her partner Andy Watson, 63, said the family were concerned that Jay had taken a wrong turn while walking from where he was staying with two English lads back to his accommodation.
He said Jay could have gotten even more lost during the 8-hour hike after he became disoriented.
Speaking outside their home in Oswaldtwistle, Andy told The Sun: “It’s really worrying. It feels like a fog at the moment.
“Jay is very streetwise and not smart, but if it was dark and he didn’t have touch on his phone, he could have gone down the wrong path and gotten more lost than he was.”
Andy said Jay went missing after going to a rave with his friend Lucy.
He said: “Lucy contacted Debbie to say he was back with two English lads he met at a party at their place for a few beers.
“Apparently, where they are staying is an eight hour walk from where Jay is staying.”
Debbie said from Tenerife that Jay was probably “disoriented” and didn’t realize it was an 8-hour walk to his apartment in the south of the island.
Speaking from the south of the island where her son was staying, she said: “I just think it’s that he didn’t know the island well enough.”
Debbie said her son “would have consumed quite a bit of alcohol” while at the festival – but “seemed very compos mentis” before he disappeared.
She said: “I know the last place he spoke to his friend Lucy from was in the mountains and I think the police now have a more precise location.
“I assume that they also talk to the people to whom he returned.
“I guess we’ll head north closer to where Jay disappeared.”
She told how British people with a “northern accent” called her with hidden numbers, claiming that they had her son in captivity and that they were holding him because he owed them money.
She said: “I just don’t know why people would want to do things like this.
“I’ve been getting a lot of prank calls. It’s disgusting.
“People call me and say they have Jay because he owes them money.
“But that doesn’t deter me… I want to keep this in the news because it will increase the chances of Jay being found safe and sound, which is obviously what we’re praying for.”
She added: “Obviously I’m overwhelmed with worry and that’s why I’ve flown down here with my eldest son to do everything we can to help.
“We’re just praying that the police or someone finds Jay. I know there’s a mountain rescue team and a helicopter.
“Nothing will ever be enough when your youngest son is missing, but it sounds like the police here are taking this very seriously and are doing the best they can.”
We just pray that the police or someone finds Jay
DebbieJay’s mom
Debbie also posted a plea for help on her Facebook asking anyone in Tenerife to share the missing poster of Jay.
The people Jay met on Sunday night were staying in a flat “in the middle of nowhere”, his close friend Lucy told the Manchester Evening News.
Jay told Lucy that he “didn’t know where he was” and that he needed a drink of water before the call ended.
Local police and the British embassy have been notified of Jay’s disappearance with mountain rescue teams and a helicopter patrolling the park since Monday.
Lucy said: “He went on a night out, he went to see a friend, someone he met on holiday.
“One of the people he met rented a car from here, so he drove them back to his apartment and Jay went there not realizing how far it was.
“He ended up in the middle of nowhere. Jay obviously thought he could get home from there.”
Do you have any information on the missing Jay? Call 07741005808 or email [email protected]
Jay’s family and friends say they have “never been so worried” about his disappearance.
They have since launched a desperate appeal to find him with Lucy searching the national park for her close friend.
A neighbour, who did not want to be named, described Jay as a “friendly guy” who always had a smile on his face.
He told The Sun: “His family must be going through hell.
– I don’t know what I would do if it was one of my children.
A spokesman for the Regional Emergency Coordination Center said Jay was first reported missing at 9.04am on Monday.
The Briton was last seen wearing a white t-shirt and shorts with a black bag on him.
A spokeswoman for the Tenerife Civil Guard said: “A specialized mountain rescue and intervention group called Greim has been mobilised.
“The police helicopter is also out and focusing on the area around the village of Masca.
“Other emergency services were also mobilized, including firefighters.
Everything possible is being done to find the missing man.
Temperatures of up to 25C are expected on the Canary Islands today.
A Foreign Office spokesman said: “We are supporting the family of a British man who has been reported missing in Spain and are in contact with local authorities.”
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A missing poster has been placed on the island of Tenerife
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Jay went missing in Tenerife after spending the night with new friends Credit: Solarpix
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Jay’s mum Debbie flew to Tenerife to help in the frantic search for her son Credit: Solarpix
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Jay was at the three-day NRG festival on the island of Tenerife
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Jay’s last location before his phone went dead said he was at Rural de Teno Park in Tenerife
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