Yahoo News Elite Spanish crime unit continues search for missing Jay Slater in Tenerife mountains
A British TikTok personality who took it upon himself to join the search for the missing Jay Slater in Tenerife has disclosed that an elite Spanish crime squad is persistently searching the mountains for clues, despite official statements from Spanish police calling off their nearly two-week-long hunt.
Paul Arnott, a social media influencer and keen mountaineer, was the sole Briton present during the crucial final stages of the search for Jay Slater. He previously criticised Spanish officials, accusing them of conducting a final search that was nothing more than a grand public relations gesture.
However, the 29 year old later updated his followers on TikTok, revealing that a specialised crime unit was still actively examining the mountainous regions around the village of Masca for any sign of the 19 year old.
It emerged shortly after Tenerife's police force declared they were concluding the extensive search for the apprentice bricklayer from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire. On Sunday, June 30, the Civil Guard announced that their intensive efforts, which included deploying sniffer dogs, a helicopter, and rescue specialists to navigate the challenging terrain, had officially ceased.
A spokeswoman for the force confirmed: "The search operation has now finished although the case remains open.", reports the Mirror.
In spite of this formal cessation, TikTok's Paul has asserted that dedicated investigative teams are still meticulously scouring parts of Masca village in hopes of locating the young man. Sharing his experience, he said: "So guys, I've just come up from the side of the mountain and something really interesting has happened."
"I was walking along the road and a car pulled up beside me, and a woman and a man got out of the car - and I was thinking 'what's going on here? '. They weren't dressed in uniform but they were very very official. They came out very polite and said 'are you the man off TikTok? '".
Paul went on to say: "They pulled up some videos and said 'is this you? ' and I said 'yeah', and they identified themselves as police. Very nice police I'd say, very very kind people. Very communicative and chatty guys. They told me what areas they think Jay may be in and also said they were a special investigative team."
"So they're studying the landscape and a few other bits. They gave me their direct Whatsapp and I can get in contact with them if I find anything, or if they have any more information then they can get into contact with me, so that was really really nice." He added: "Really positive experience with the police out here."
The search for Jay officially concluded at 10am on Sunday morning, with media arriving at the usual viewpoint meeting spot at the search site only to discover it empty. Just 24 hours earlier, approximately 30 rescue workers and dozens of journalists had gathered in the area following an appeal for assistance from Tenerife's top cop Angel Sanz Coronado.
Jay has been missing in Tenerife since June 17 after leaving the NRG music festival by car with two men and staying the night at an Airbnb in the rural area in the north west of the island. His devastated family have pledged to continue their search, despite on-the-ground searches being concluded.
