Jay Slater police believe today is 'key day' in search for missing teen in Tenerife

Today is likely to be the "key day" in the hunt for Jay Slater in Tenerife. An Irish journalist based in Tenerife has told Sky News today is seen as a 'key day' in the search for missing British teenager Jay, who vanished in the Canary Islands earlier this week.

Former RTE editor Cliodna O'Flynn spoke to Kay Burley earlier today and said the next few hours could prove vital in the hunt for the 19-year-old from Lancashire. The hunt for Jay entered its fourth day this morning as searches resume in the mountainous Rural de Teno national park.

Jay has not been seen or heard from since he called a friend on Monday morning to say he was 10 hours away from his accommodation in the south of the Island but needed water and had 1% battery life on his phone.

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A message on Facebook, posted by concerned loved ones, read: "We will be up there again first thing, however a search party is going to be necessary to search everywhere as the area is very big. If you can help, please do, we need to get him home."

Jay flew to Tenerife with friends to attend the for the NRG music festival but last made contact on Monday morning when he told them he was 10 hours away from their accommodation but needed water and had 1% battery life on his phone

His mother Debbie Duncan issued a tearful plea for his return last night as she told ITN: "It's a nightmare. It's just an absolute living nightmare." Searches for the apprentice bricklayer, who had flown to the Canary island for the NRG music festival, have taken place in the mountainous Rural de Teno national park.

Jay was last seen wearing a white T-shirt with shorts and trainers, with his phone showing his last location as the Rural de Teno, an area popular with hikers.