The desperate search for missing British teenager Jay Slater has entered its fourth day, with Spanish authorities and mountain rescue teams combing the rugged terrain of northwestern Tenerife.
Jay Slater, 19, from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, was last heard from on Monday morning when he contacted a friend to say he was lost in a remote mountainous area with limited phone battery after missing a bus back to his accommodation.
Family's Heartbreaking Plea
In an emotional statement, Jay's mother Debbie Duncan revealed the family's anguish: "We are just hoping and praying the search teams can find him. It's been absolute torture not knowing where he is or what has happened."
The family has flown to Tenerife to support the search efforts, with Jay's brother Zack sharing updates on social media while appealing for any information that might help locate the missing teenager.
Intensive Search Operation Underway
Spanish police have launched a major search operation focusing on the challenging landscape around the village of Masca in the Teno Rural Park. The area is known for its steep ravines and difficult hiking terrain.
Search teams including:
- Specialist mountain rescue units
- Helicopters with thermal imaging equipment
- Local police and Civil Guard officers
- Search dogs trained for mountain terrain
Authorities have described the operation as "complex and challenging" due to the remote location and difficult weather conditions in the mountains.
Last Known Movements
Jay was last seen at a festival in Tenerife before travelling to the northwestern part of the island with two men he had met during his holiday. He was attempting to return to his accommodation in the south when he became stranded.
His friend Lucy Mae Law reported receiving a final phone call around 8:15 AM on Monday where Jay said he was lost, had one percent phone battery remaining, and was surrounded by mountains with no buildings in sight.
The search continues as authorities race against time to find the missing teenager in what has become one of Tenerife's most extensive missing person operations in recent years.
