Ongoing Search for Missing British Teenager Jay Slater in Tenerife
The search for 19-year-old British teenager Jay Slater has entered its seventh day after he disappeared following a night out in Tenerife. Slater, an apprentice bricklayer from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, went missing on Monday, June 16, 2024. He was last seen leaving a nightclub in Playa de las Americas and later contacted a friend from a mountain pass near the village of Masca. His phone last pinged at 8:50 AM on the same day.
Jay's family, including his mother Debbie Duncan, father Warren Slater, and brother Zak, have traveled to the Spanish island to assist in the search. They have been joined by emergency workers focusing their efforts on a 2,000-foot-deep ravine in the Teno Nature Reserve, a challenging area characterized by steep and perilous slopes.
Back in his hometown of Oswaldtwistle, a church service was held where residents gathered to pray for Jay's safe return. Rev Matt Smith from West End Methodist Church noted the community's shock and offered support to Jay's family.
Debbie Duncan, who has stayed in Tenerife, expressed her anguish and faced online criticism for not joining the search in person, citing her emotional state. Authorities continue to investigate potential leads, including a reported sighting of Jay with two men in Santiago del Teide later on Monday evening.
As the search continues, a GoFundMe page set up by Jay's friend Lucy has raised over £27,000 to support the family's efforts to find him. Spanish authorities have declined additional assistance from British police, although local officers and rescue teams remain actively involved in the search.