Yahoo News Brit rescued by police in Jay Slater search says he 'didn't need saving'
A British hiker, who was found by search teams in Tenerife while they were looking for missing teenager Jay Slater, has spoken out to clarify that he didn't need rescuing.
David Larkin expressed his gratitude but insisted he was fine. The 51-year-old was walking near the area where the young boy was last seen when rescuers mistakenly thought he also needed help.
Spanish Police even shared their 'success' on Facebook, stating they "rushed to the rescue of a 51-year-old Scottish hiker". However, Mr Larkin has now set the record straight with reporters.
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He said: "I can tell you now, I wasn't tired and I wasn't disoriented, and I didn't need rescuing. I think there was a lot lost in translation. I explained to them I had water, I was wearing layers, I had my rucksack with food and I'm an experienced hiker."
Mr Larkin, a former director of a housing project based in Hackney, arrived in Tenerife earlier this month. He is currently staying in a one-bedroom hut on the edge of a cliff and embarking on treks across the park, reports the Mirror.
Speaking to MailOnline, he added: "I went into the canyon and I saw the helicopters looking and thought they were looking for the lad but I didn't for one minute think they would end up picking me up. I think they want to show how good they are, but I certainly didn't need saving. I feel so sorry for the boy's family and hope he's found soon.
"I'm actually embarrassed about this, I had my poles and I know what I'm doing and I knew that if it could get windy I would take shelter in a cave. I know these trails, I've been coming here for years, so I know what I'm doing."
Oswaldtwistle's Jay Slater has been missing from the holiday island since Monday. The last known sighting of him was by the owner of an Airbnb, raising concerns that he missed his bus to regroup with friends located in the southern part of the island, a region buzzing with British holidaymakers.
His last pinpointed location is in Rural del Teno, a mountainous area situated in the west of the island with its nearest township being Santiago del Teide. He had been lodging in a friend's apartment on the island's south.
His mate, Lucy Mae, alerted police following a call she received from Jay at 8.30am in which he stated, "he was lost in the mountains, he wasn't aware of his surroundings, he desperately needed a drink and his phone was on 1%".
Just before disappearing, Jay had been messaging buddies through Snapchat and appeared emotionally stable. His mobile drained out around 8.50am, with his latest detected site registered near a hiking path, several hundred feet aloft from the modest village of Masca.
Just a day ago, a former British detective told the Mirror that the teen's disappearance should have been treated as a murder inquiry from the start, in order to preserve the best possible forensic evidence during the vital first 24 hours of the case. The former Met DCI Steve Gaskin expressed his concerns to the Mirror, stating it's "not looking good" for Jay.
