Jay Slater missing in Tenerife: 'He's taking his finals when he gets back - if he gets back'

In just a few weeks Jay Slater is due to sit his final exams at Accrington and Rossendale College.

To take a well-earned break from his studies the apprentice bricklayer was persuaded by school friends to jet off to Tenerife to attend a music festival. But on Monday morning, after a night out on the Spanish island, 19-year-old Jay was reported missing after failing to return to his hotel.

A huge search and rescue operation is underway in the Rural de Teno Park, the National Park of Teno, where Jay's phone last 'pinged' his location. Friends and family, including Jay's mum Debbie and his older brother Zak, flew out to Tenerife this morning (Tuesday June 18).

• READ MORE: Police knocked on missing teen's mum's door at 2am and said 'you best go to Tenerife'

• READ MORE: Jay Slater missing: Live updates as desperate search launched in Tenerife for Lancashire teen

At the family home in Oswaldtwistle, Jay's step-dad Andy Watson sits by the phone, waiting for news. He has described the moment police knocked on his door to inform Debbie that her son was missing.

Andy describes Jay as a "Jack the lad". "He's taking his finals when he gets back... if he gets back," Andy, 63, told LancsLive. He's just finishing his building apprenticeship. He's going to be a bricklayer."

Andy admits that Jay's disappearance will remind the public of the recent headlines surrounding TV doctor Michael Mosley. Dr Mosley, a regular on This Morning, was found dead on the Greek island of Symi last week after going missing while on a walk.

While the temperature in Tenerife is significantly lower than that in Greece those involved in the search operation will be acutely aware of the effects of heat exposure. And with Jay telling friends he "needed a drink" before his battery died every moment counts as volunteers desperately look for him in the expansive national park.

Jay had gone to Tenerife with his friends Lucy and Brad. The last they heard from him was at around 8.50am on Monday morning when Jay called Lucy and said he was planning on walking back to their hotel - 11 hours away.

Jay told Lucy that he only had one per cent battery left on his phone. His mobile died with his last known location showing him in 'the middle of the mountains'. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office is supporting Jay's family while ex-pats on the island of Tenerife are understood to have joined the search.