Yahoo News Father of missing Jay Slater explains why he hasn't joined the search for his son in Tenerife
Warren Slater, the father of missing 19 year old bricklayer apprentice Jay Slater, has defended his approach to the search for his son by stating that he is "leaving it to the professionals".
Despite criticism from trolls for not actively participating in the widespread search operation in Tenerife where the young man disappeared nearly a fortnight ago, Mr Slater stands firm on his decision. "I'm grateful to those who have come out here because you can see just how dangerous it is and what gets me is the trollers who are having a go at us for not searching," Warren Slater said.
"It's not the local park, these are big mountains, the terrain is dangerous, put yourself in our position would you go out in these conditions? It's tough, it's hard, we are leaving it to the professionals and I'm grateful for those who have turned out today and I want to thank them for what they are doing."
Regrettably, the exploration of the treacherous Rural de Teno landscape garnered nothing significant. This outcome means the search operation will possibly proceed into its 14th day on Sunday without any official reduction in scale.
Addressing the situation after Saturday's efforts, Mr Slater added: "I just thought he's gone out had a drink and ended up at some girl's place as we all did when we were younger, he's our youngest I just want him home."
"We just still can't believe it; it's been so tough on us, and I want people to think about us as parents and what we are going through. All those trollers having a go at us, they don't know how we feel, why don't they come up here and have a look and see for themselves how dangerous it is.", reports the Mirror.
The search operation is currently focused on a challenging terrain near the village of Masca, where Jay was last seen. Brigadier Cipriano Martin, head of the Guardia Civil's mountain rescue team, has stated that the missing teenager from Lancashire would not have ventured into areas deemed too risky for the rescue teams.
Through an interpreter, he told the BBC: "There are difficult areas and we've given instructions for people not to risk their own safety. But there's something we need to make clear, which is any area we don't go to, well, Jay won't have gone there either."
"You have to think about it logically - if I see there's vegetation in front of me and I'm going to get spiked, and I can't get through, then he won't have gone through that area either. We have to be logical, obviously."
