Today is crucial in the search for British teenager Jay Slater, missing in Tenerife since Monday morning, with hopes for positive news, according to island journalist Clio O’Flynn.
Jay Slater, from Lancashire, vanished during a night out with friends after attending the NRG music festival in Tenerife.
Tenerife-based reporter Clio O’Flynn described Thursday as a “key day” for rescuers aiming to find Jay. She expressed hope that if Jay had taken shelter, he would be found soon.
Jay’s mother, Debbie Duncan, flew to Tenerife to join the search efforts, calling the situation “an absolute living nightmare” and expressing her desperation to find her son. Speaking to ITV News, she pleaded for his safe return.
Lucy Law, a friend of Jay, recounted her last conversation with him on Monday morning around 8.15am local time. Jay, an apprentice bricklayer, mentioned his phone battery was at 1%. Law emphasized Jay’s resourcefulness but expressed concern about his dwindling phone battery and his ability to signal for help.
O’Flynn noted the search’s intensity, involving mountain specialists, search dogs, drones, and helicopters, coordinated with input from Jay’s family. The area where Jay disappeared is a challenging terrain, described as dry and arid with volcanic ravines and gullies, making the search difficult. O’Flynn mentioned the absence of water sources, adding to the urgency of finding Jay.
Fortunately, Tenerife has not experienced extreme heatwaves like Greece and Cyprus, with temperatures around 26C (79F). However, O’Flynn cautioned that even 25C can be harsh when lost. Jay was last reported to be without food and water, wearing only a T-shirt and shorts, which adds to the concern given the temperature fluctuations between day and night.
Law also told the Manchester Evening News that Jay had been driven far from his original location by someone he met, leading to his disorientation. Jay’s phone last pinged in the Rural de Teno park, a remote, mountainous area favored by hikers.
The Foreign Office confirmed their support for Jay’s family and ongoing communication with local authorities.
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