Firefighter in Jay Slater search speaks out on 'increasingly strange' aspect

A firefighter on the hunt for the 19-year-old Jay Slater, who mysteriously vanished in Tenerife a week ago, has labelled the situation surrounding his disappearance as 'increasingly strange'.

Search parties are relentlessly scouring mountainous regions in hopes of finding the Oswaldtwistle teenager. Emergency units which include the Civil Guard, specialised mountain search teams and firefighters, have been actively scouring a vast 30-kilometre stretch of land in the Spanish island.

The apprentice bricklayer vanished after attempting to walk back to his accommodation over 30km away. It has been reported it was the morning after spending the night at an Airbnb with new people he has met at NRG music event.

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According to reports, he walked off alone and uphill into the mountainous area around the Rural de Teno park, near to the Masca village. Friend Lucy, who was also on holiday with the teen, received a call from Jay, who explained that he was lost and had one per cent phone battery, before his mobile ran flat at around 8.50am.

The owner of the Airbnb accommodation in the north west of Tenerife was the last person confirmed to have seen him. A major search operation to find the teenager has now entered its second week and a fireman, called Ricardo, from the Brigada Forestal, said how tough the conditions make it to find a missing person.

"It's very difficult to find people here, because of the ravines and the mountains," he told the M.E.N. "I've seen the case and about the missing boy on the internet... but the days are now passing by and it's increasingly strange that he hasn't appeared yet."

"The information we have is that Jay [and his friends] were going to a music festival, and afterwards, the last sign of him was around here in the Teno Rural Park. I don't know if he was walking, hiking.. I just don't know. That's where I lose the thread."

He added: “It's so strange." Police said on Friday that they were focusing in on areas around the Parque Rural de Teno nature reserve, the area where Jay was reported missing. They include a ravine around 100 metres below the rental property where Jay was last seen, as well as in mountains between Masca and Las Portelas.”

Jay Slater's mum Debbie has issued an update on the GoFundMe page, which has surpassed £30k as the search to find the missing teenager enters its second week. The fundraiser, which was set up by the last person to speak to the teenager, has reached its target just days after it was created by friend Lucy.

The GoFundMe created by Lucy Law to 'get Jay Slater home' had received more than £32,000 in donations by Monday morning (June 24), however was the subject of much speculation online and in social media groups, with people questioning what the money would be used for.

Jay's mum Debbie Duncan, who has vowed to 'never give up' on her son, has been added as a beneficiary on the fundraiser and issued a public update, explaining that no money had been withdrawn from the fundraiser and that friends and family had so far funded the trip to Tenerife themselves.

The update read: "Hi everyone, this is Debbie, Jay's mother. Thank you all for your generosity and kindness during this difficult time.

"I wanted to confirm that this is the only GoFundMe fundraiser approved by our family. We have not yet withdrawn any funds and are currently covering the expenses, such as the trip to Tenerife and accommodation, ourselves.

"The funds will remain on hold with GoFundMe until we post a further update on this page. We are extremely worried and are doing everything we can to find Jay.

"Please continue to share our fundraiser far and wide. Your support means the world to us, and we are grateful for any help you can provide. Thank you again."