Yahoo News Missing Jay Slater search: Spanish police reject help from Lancashire Constabulary
Spanish police have rejected an offer of support from Lancashire Constabulary as the desperate hunt for a British teenager in Tenerife goes on.
Jay Slater, 19, was reported missing by his pals on Monday (June 17) on the Spanish island. The teenager, who is from the Lancashire town of Oswaldtwistle, had stayed at an Airbnb on the north of the island, close to the vast mountainous Rural de Teno Park area and the village of Masca, with people had met after the NRG music festival on Sunday evening.
Desperate searches have been ongoing to find him in the days since, with mountain rescuers and Guardia Civil officers scouring the 'dangerous' vast landscape. As of today (Saturday), there have been no breakthroughs.
Follow our live blog HERE for the latest updates on the search for Jay
Lancashire police said it had made 'an offer of support to the Guardia Civil to see if they need any additional resources' in their efforts. Police on the island said they were 'satisfied' with the resources that they had.
In a statement, a Lancashire Constabulary spokesperson said: "First and foremost, our thoughts are with Jay’s family at this time. They must be going through the most distressing ordeal not knowing what has happened to their loved one.
"Whilst this case falls outside the jurisdiction of UK policing, we have made an offer of support to the Guardia Civil to see if they need any additional resources. They have confirmed that at this time they are satisfied that they have the resources they need, but that offer remains open and they will contact us should that position change."
Yesterday (Friday) marked the fifth day of intense and gruelling searches in and around the village of Masca, bordered by steep terrain and huge mountains with just one road in and out. The vast search area - around 30km - focuses on three main areas, Masca Gorge, La Vica, and Las Portelas.
Along with the dangerous landscape, leading to helicopters and drones being deployed, hot and extremely dry conditions reaching up to 25C also make the search all the more challenging. Civil defence teams were seen planning new areas to combat, using binoculars to map out the next phase in their efforts throughout the afternoon.
In a post on the Facebook page called Jay Slater Missing, the administrator of the group Rach Louise Harg said Jay's family and friends were in a 'living nightmare'.
She said: “There isn’t an update for anyone unfortunately. Struggling to find words at this time but all I can say is we are looking still and everyone is doing all they can.
“We are drained beyond words – I just can’t say no more, I wish I could. I wish this would end now, this living nightmare.
“Searches are ongoing and we remain positive. Thanks to you all supporting and helping we can’t thank you any more, much love.”
