Jay Slater's 'devastated' family speak out after search called off

Jay Slater's family have spoken of their devastation after it was announced the search for the missing teenager had been called off this morning. His parents Debbie and Warren and brother Zak had flown to the island of Tenerife after Jay vanished while walking back to his holiday accommodation.

The search for the apprentice bricklayer lasted 14 days as sniffer dogs, drones and a helicopter all tried to find him, alongside rescue teams. According to The Sun, the family have been left stunned at the decision to end the search.

A family source told the newspaper Jay's parents and family are “heartbroken and devastated”. The Spanish authorities announced the search would end but the case would remain open this morning.

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It comes after a last push to find Jay yesterday as Spanish police called on experienced volunteers to join the search in Masca, where Jay was last seen by a woman who said he had asked her for directions.

A Civil Guard spokeswoman said today: “The search operation has now finished although the case remains open.”

Jay had rang friends on the morning he went missing on June 17 to say he was running out of phone battery as he attempted to walk back to their holiday accommodation on the other side of the island from an Air BnB he had stayed at the previous night.