Police searching for missing Jay Slater make request to volunteers as hunt for teen intensifies
Topics: Jay Slater, UK News
Jess Hardiman
Featured Image Credit: Family handout
Topics: Jay Slater, UK News
Police in Tenerife are calling for volunteers to take part in a new large-scale search for missing British teenager Jay Slater.
Slater disappeared after a night out in Tenerife earlier this month, having last been heard from at around 8am on 17 June after telling others he was in the middle of nowhere and needed water.
The journey back to his resort would have taken around 11 hours on foot, but no one has since seen or heard from the 19-year-old ever since.
Now police are calling on others to help in the search, which the Spanish Civil Guard said would begin at 9am local time on Saturday in the village of Masca, near to his last-known location.
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The search will involve surrounding roads, trails and ravines.
The Lancashire-born teenager had been enjoying a holiday on the Spanish island with two friends in the hours before he went missing, having flown to the popular holiday spot for a music festival.
His friend Lucy, who was with him on the trip, told police Slater been on a night out with the group earlier that evening, but had left the group in order to spend time with new people he'd met.
He told her his phone battery was on one percent and that he needed a drink of water, but 'didn't know where he was'.
His phone then died, with his last location shown as being Rural de Teno Park - or the National Park of Teno – in the north west of Tenerife.
Many people have been eager to know how they can help, with a fundraiser for Slater having now reached £40,000.
Thanking people for their support, mum Debbie Duncan said in a statement on the GoFundMe page that the money would be used in a variety of ways.
"We are currently working with GoFundMe to withdraw part of the funds, which are being safely held," she said.
"I wanted to share that these funds will be used to support the mountain rescue teams who are tirelessly searching for Jay.
"Additionally, since our stay in Tenerife needs to be extended, we will also use the funds to cover accommodation and food expenses.
"I’m surrounded by wonderful people who are by my side, but far from their loved ones, so we’ll also be using part of these funds to fly them to Tenerife so we can support each other during these dark times.
"Thank you again for all your donations and support, this means the world to us."