The search for 19-year-old British teenager Jay Slater, who disappeared in Tenerife, has entered its fifth day. Slater, from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, was last seen on Monday, June 17, after attempting to return to his accommodation following the NRG music festival. The search effort, heavily concentrated around the village of Masca, involves police, firefighters, and search and rescue personnel using helicopters, rescue dogs, and drones.
Search teams have focused on combing through dead palm trees and dense undergrowth in a ravine near an Airbnb property where he was last reportedly seen. Ophelia, the property owner, witnessed Slater walking alone on the morning he vanished. Slater’s last known communication was a call to his friend Lucy Law, in which he mentioned being lost, needing water, and having just 1% phone battery.
Family and friends are in Tenerife assisting with the search, working alongside local authorities. Efforts have been challenged by the vast and rugged terrain, with areas like the river Barranco Madre del Agua and the ravines in Rural de Teno park being closely examined.
The family's desperation is evident as they describe the situation as a "living nightmare" on social media. A fundraiser to support the search has raised over £24,500. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is in contact with Spanish authorities, supporting the family.
The search continues with hope that Jay Slater will be found soon.