Spanish police and mountain rescue teams are engaged in a frantic search for a British man who vanished in Tenerife, with the operation now entering a critical phase.
The 38-year-old tourist was last seen on Monday evening in the mountainous Teno region, a popular hiking area known for its challenging terrain. Local authorities have deployed specialist units, including helicopters with thermal imaging equipment, as concerns grow about his welfare amid plummeting nighttime temperatures.
Family's Emotional Appeal
The missing man's family have flown to the Canary Islands to assist with search efforts. In a tearful statement to local media, his sister described him as "an experienced hiker but unfamiliar with these particular mountains."
"We're begging anyone who might have seen him to come forward," she said. "He was wearing a bright blue jacket and carrying a black backpack when he set out."
Search Challenges
Search coordinator Captain Miguel Ángel Hernández warned that the operation faces significant difficulties: "The terrain is extremely rugged with many ravines. Some areas are inaccessible to vehicles, forcing rescuers to proceed on foot."
Tourism officials have stressed that such disappearances are rare on the well-marked trails, but advised visitors to always inform hotels of their hiking plans and carry fully charged mobile phones.
