The search for 19-year-old Jay Slater, who vanished in Tenerife six days ago, has reportedly ramped up according to his mother, Debbie Duncan. After spending eight hours at a police station on Friday, Debbie emerged with renewed hope, stating she believes Spanish authorities have “stepped up” their efforts to find her son.
However, she still remains concerned that “something untoward” may have happened to Jay Slater. She revealed that police are investigating all leads but cautioned that excessive media attention could potentially hinder the search efforts.
The search is concentrated in the Rural De Teno nature park, covering an expansive 30 square kilometers. Despite the challenging terrain, rescue teams maintain hope of finding Slater alive. “We still have hope that he’s alive, up until the last moment when the last hope is lost,” one rescuer stated, acknowledging the frustration of searching such a vast and steep area.
“It’s so big [here] that it’s very difficult to search in such a steep area. But we’re doing everything we can. We haven’t found anything, we have combed this entire trail, we’ve been up and down but, until now, nothing.”
According to the Guardian, Jay Slater was last heard from on Monday morning when he called a friend, saying he was lost, needed water, and that his phone battery was nearly dead. He had separated from his friends after attending the NRG music festival and reportedly went with two men to their holiday cottage near the village of Masca around 3:00 BST.
The case has drawn community support back in Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, where a fundraising page has gathered over £26,000 to assist the family’s efforts. Residents are also offering prayers and support for the missing teen’s safe return.
As of now, both Spanish authorities and Jay Slater’s family remain committed to finding him, employing dogs, drones, and extensive ground searches in their efforts to bring him home safely.