The sun-drenched mountains of Tenerife have become the backdrop for a deepening mystery that has captured international attention, as the search for 19-year-old British influencer Jay Slater enters its most critical phase.
Spanish authorities have made the controversial decision to scale back their large-scale search operation, despite desperate appeals from Jay's distraught family who have flown to the island to coordinate their own efforts.
The Final Hours
Jay, an apprentice bricklayer from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, was last seen in the early hours of Monday morning after attending a music festival on the Spanish island. The teenager had travelled to Tenerife with friends for the NRG music event, a trip that should have ended with happy memories and social media posts.
Instead, his disappearance has spawned an international mystery. Jay's last known contact was a panicked phone call to friend Lucy Law around 8:15 AM on Monday, where he revealed he was lost in rural terrain, had only 1% battery on his phone, and had missed a bus back to his accommodation.
A Mother's Anguish
Debbie Duncan, Jay's heartbroken mother, spoke exclusively about the family's torment. "The Spanish police are doing their job but we feel they need to do more", she revealed, her voice heavy with emotion. "We're stuck in this nightmare where every hour without answers feels like an eternity."
The family has been coordinating private search parties, hiring helicopters, and following every possible lead while facing the additional burden of significant financial costs.
Search Efforts Intensify
Despite Spanish police reducing their official presence, the search continues with:
- Mountain rescue specialists combing the challenging terrain
- Local firefighters conducting targeted searches
- Helicopter surveillance over remote areas
- Volunteer search parties organised by the family
The focus remains on the Teno Rural Park near the village of Masca, where Jay was last known to be, an area described by locals as "treacherous even for experienced hikers".
Digital Trail Goes Cold
Investigators have been piecing together Jay's final movements through digital footprints and witness accounts. He was last seen wearing a white t-shirt, shorts, and trainers, carrying a black bag - clothing entirely unsuitable for the mountainous region he found himself in.
As the mystery enters another day, questions multiply while answers remain elusive. The international community watches and waits, hoping for the breakthrough that will bring this young man home to his desperate family.
