Scottish hiker found during Jay Slater search claims he 'didn't need saved'

A Scottish hiker who was found by crews looking for missing teenager Jay Slater has insisted he "didn't need saved"'.

David Larkin, 51, was discovered in a desolate park near the spot where Jay was last seen. Officers broke off their search for the 19-year-old after fears were raised over David.

Police said David was found "tired and disorientated" in Rural de Teno National Park after entering "difficult" mountains". He has now claimed this was untrue, and he was "fine" when officers found him.

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Speaking to the Daily Mail, David said: ""I can tell you now; I wasn’t tired and I wasn’t disoriented, and I didn’t need rescuing.

"I think there was a lot lost in translation when they saw him and I explained to them I had water, I was wearing layers, I had my rucksack with food and I’m an experienced hiker.

"I think they want to show how good they are, but I certainly didn’t saving. I feel so sorry for the boy’s family and hope he’s found soon."

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David, who lives in Scotland but is originally from Northern Ireland, was staying in a one-bed hut near a cliff since arriving in Tenerife earlier in June.

He continued: "I went into the canyon and I saw the helicopters looking and thought they were looking for the lad but I didn’t for one minute think they would end up picking me up.

"I don’t want to appear ungrateful, and I thanked them for their concern but I was fine."

Police said in a social media post: "Locals observed how said hiker entered very early into an area of difficult access not suitable for travel and after several hours passed without him returning to the starting point, they alerted the agents who were at that time in the area. search for missing young man, Jay Slater.

"Tired and disoriented, he was located by the agents and the rescue team who helped him get out of the ravine."

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Jay, from Lancashire, has been missing since June 17. He was last seen by the owner of an Airbnb.

The teen reportedly walked off along the mountains close to the village of Masca. This was after he left a rental apartment, where he had gone to with people he met at NRG music festival.

One of those friends, Lucy Mae, told police she woke up to a phone call from Jay at 8.30am saying "he was lost in the mountains, he wasn't aware of his surroundings, he desperately needed a drink and his phone was on one per cent".