Missing Jay Slater last seen in 'dangerous' area where expert predicted 'accidents'

A mountain rescue expert from Tenerife had ominously declared that an accident at a national park was "inevitable" four years before Lancashire teenager Jay Slater went missing.

The search for the missing 19-year-old has intensified as it enters its fifth day, with friends and family growing increasingly concerned for his safety.

Jay, who is from Oswaldtwistle, made a distressing call to his friend, Lucy Law, on Monday morning, informing her he was lost, desperately thirsty, and had only one per cent left on his phone battery. There has been no contact with him since that call.

He was trekking in the Masca region of Tenerife's Teno Rural Park when he disappeared. The park is notorious for its perilous ravines and some of the most challenging trails on the island, posing risks even to seasoned mountain hikers.

Vicente Infante, of the Tenerife Mountain Federation, had warned four years ago about the dangers of hiking in the park without proper preparation and equipment, reports the Mirror.

Vicente highlighted the tricky nature of the trails and the increasing number of people taking them on without the right gear. He said: "Hikers in the past were prepared, used suitable footwear, helmets... In short, they carried all the equipment."

"What happens nowadays is that many people go with normal trainers, shorts, shirts... that's where the risks are. More and more people are going, so sooner or later an accident will happen. It's inevitable."

He suggested a lot of people who had gone on to need rescue from the trails had just been over optimistic, saying: "They come from other countries and think that we live in an eternal spring and that there is no danger. Most of those who have accidents are people from abroad, tourists, with no knowledge of the area."

Getting the right information is by no means easy. He continued: "Information exists, but it is hard to find and confusing. Each institution signs the paths in a different way and this generates confusion. What you see on the panel at the start of a path may not coincide with what it says in the leaflet and this, in turn, with what appears on the website."

He also pointed out that signage is often either "missing, broken or painted over" and with the absence of provisions for fresh drinking water, treks through the park can become extremely challenging.

A hiker in one review highlighted the potentially dangerous terrain. "Hiking shoes with good grip are necessary," they advised. "If you slip or fall, a bed of cacti are there to catch you."

The same hiker recommended: "Signposted but some paths were not obvious. Bring at least two litres of water, no water along the way."

The last time Jay was seen, he was wearing an ordinary T-shirt and trainers, and had already suffered a cut on his leg from a cactus spine. Having missed his bus back to his holiday stay, he decided to walk the route, a trek that could span eight to 10 hours.

Andy Watson, Jay's stepdad, expressed scepticism about the idea that Jay would undertake a long and perilous trek on foot. Speaking to the Daily Mail, he said: "He has me run him down to the hairdressers, 200 yards away - why would he walk eight hours? ".

Watson speculated that Jay might have joined someone for a drink at their home. Meanwhile, Jay's mother Debbie is concerned that her son may be held captive.

She told reporters: "I'm not stupid, I've been to Tenerife before, I've worked abroad myself and I gave him warnings, I just think if anyone has got him let him go, he's not a bad person."

His friend Lucy, speaking to the Mirror, voiced her frustration with the local police and urged for UK officers to assist in the search. She stated: "We need British police here. I just want to find my mate. He's been missing three days. It's not looking good now. We feel as though it's down to us to find him and that we're doing more than the police."

She criticised the language barrier and lack of progress, saying: "The police here don't speak English and don't even have a translator after three days. I feel like they're fobbing me off. They're still asking me the same questions as when I first reported Jay missing."

Lucy also highlighted concerns regarding the last individuals seen with Jay, adding: "The two boys that he was last with have left the country. They need to be questioned by British police."