Police in Tenerife have called off the two-week search in the mountains for missing British teenager Jay Slater, though the case remains open. The 19-year-old apprentice bricklayer from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, disappeared on Monday 17 June after attending a weekend rave with friends.
The search, which involved emergency services, mountain rescue teams, sniffer dogs, drones and helicopters, culminated in a 'massive search' on Saturday. However, a Guardia Civil spokesperson confirmed on Sunday that the coordinated attempt to locate Slater had ended without success.
Slater was last heard from at around 8.15am on the day of his disappearance. He told a friend, Lucy Law, that he planned to walk back to his accommodation after missing a bus, a journey that would take 10-11 hours on foot. He also said he was thirsty, had 1% battery left on his phone, and did not know where he was.
One of Slater's last calls was a video call to another friend, Brad Hargreaves, who told ITV he heard Slater apparently sliding off the path. Hargreaves said he could hear the sound of gravel and stones, indicating his friend had left the road.
The search on Saturday focused on valleys and ravines in the mountainous terrain near Masca in the Rural de Teno national park. Authorities had requested help from professionals and volunteers with expertise in such terrain, but no sign of Slater was found.
Slater's mother, Debbie Duncan, has described the 'online noise' and conspiracy theories surrounding the case as 'horrible', and said Spanish police warned it could hinder their investigation.
