The father of missing 19-year-old Jay Slater has given a heart-wrenching interview, describing the unbearable agony of being stuck in the UK while search teams scour the treacherous Tenerife terrain for his son.
Warren Slater, from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, has revealed the family's desperation is reaching a breaking point as the operation to find the apprentice bricklayer enters its most critical phase. Jay was last heard from on Monday morning, when he called a friend to say he was lost, dehydrated, and his phone battery was on the verge of dying.
'It's an absolute living nightmare,' Warren told the Mirror, his voice thick with emotion. 'Knowing your boy is out there, potentially hurt or worse, and you can't just get on a plane to be there... it's torture. I feel completely and utterly powerless.'
A Desperate Call for Help
The last known contact from Jay painted a grim picture. After attending a music festival, he had travelled to a remote Airbnb in the village of Masca, in the rugged Teno Rural Park. His final call to friend Lucy Law indicated he was disorientated, had no water, and was attempting to walk back to his accommodation—a journey that would take an estimated 11 hours on foot.
Warren expressed his profound gratitude to the Spanish authorities involved in the massive land and air search. 'The Spanish police and the mountain rescue teams have been incredible. They are doing everything they can, and we are so thankful,' he said.
Family's Torment Grows with Each Passing Hour
Back in Lancashire, Jay's mother, Debbie Duncan, has flown to Tenerife to be at the heart of the search efforts, leaving Warren to anxiously await news from thousands of miles away. The family is clinging to hope, but Warren admits the situation is becoming increasingly dire.
'He's a resourceful lad, but the conditions out there are brutal,' Warren explained. 'The terrain is mountainous, the temperatures are extreme. We are just praying for a miracle.'
Friends of the popular teenager have launched a GoFundMe campaign to support the family and potentially fund a private search, a testament to the widespread concern for his safe return.
As the sun sets on another day in Tenerife, the Slater family's anguish deepens, their lives suspended as they wait for any scrap of information that could lead to their beloved son.
