Spanish police have called on volunteers to assist in the search for missing UK teenager Jay Slater in northern Tenerife. The search mission will involve organisations and members of the public who possess expertise in tough conditions. Mr Slater, who was on his first holiday abroad without parents, has not been heard from since June 17 when he told a friend he was lost in the mountains with only 1% battery on his phone. The hunt will focus on ravines and trails surrounding Masca in the Rural de Teno national park, starting from Mirador de la Cruz de Hilda restaurant at 09:00 BST. The authorities have deployed helicopter crews, specially trained dogs, and drones since the teenager disappeared 12 days ago, but there have been no successful leads.
Mr Slater visited the NRG music festival in Tenerife on June 16 with friends. While in the tourist hotspot of Playa de las Americas, he was seen getting into a car with two British men who he had met on that evening. The next morning, he was tagged in a photo on Snapchat at 07:30 BST at an Airbnb in Masca, which was reportedly rented by the two men. His best friend Brad Hargreaves stated that he had received a video call from Mr Slater soon after. During the conversation, Slater struggled to maintain balance on a path, as shown by the video footage. According to Hargreaves, Slater terminated the call stating he needed to take another call. Slater called another friend, Lucy Law, shortly after 8:30 BST and desperately stated that he did not know his location, needed some water, and only had 1% battery before he went out of contact.
In a statement to the BBC, Mr Slater’s mother, Debbie Duncan, said her son was a wonderful, bubbly guy with hundreds of friends who enjoyed his company. “He’s gorgeous, he’s beautiful. He’s my baby,” she revealed. Mr Hargreaves’ mother said she and her son would remain in Tenerife with Ms. Duncan as long as it takes. Rachel Hargreaves said, “I’m just here trying to support her and be strong for her. The things she can’t do, I am trying to do for her, mother-to-mother.”
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