Teen, 19, goes missing in Tenerife after walking 'into mountains with no houses around'

A heartfelt plea for help has been issued by the family and friends of a teenager who has mysteriously disappeared in Tenerife. Jay Slater, 19, from Oswaldtwistle in Lancashire, had travelled to the Spanish island with his friend Lucy and another companion for a music festival.

However, alarm bells rang when he failed to return after staying with some acquaintances he met on the Canary Island, according to the Manchester Evening News.

Lucy described their accommodation as being located in "the middle of nowhere", adding that Jay "would not have realised" how far it was from their location. On Monday, she received a call from Jay who said he was attempting to walk back to their apartment as he couldn't catch a bus.

He reportedly told her that his phone was down to 1% battery, he was lost and needed a drink before his phone cut out.

His last known location, according to his phone, was in "the middle of mountains with nothing around". This area is within the Rural de Teno Park - also known as the National Park of Teno - a favourite spot for hikers, reports the Liverpool Echo.

The nearest town is Santiago del Teide. Lucy is now desperately searching for her friend, having reported his disappearance to local police in Tenerife and contacted the British Embassy.

Jay's mother is also en route to Tenerife, Lucy confirmed. Lucy explained: "He's gone on a night out, he's gone to a friend's house, someone that he has met on holiday. One of the people he has met has hired a car out of here, so he's driven them back to his apartment and Jay has gone there not realising how far away it is."

"He's ended up out in the middle of nowhere. Jay was obviously thinking he would be able to get home from there. But then in the morning he's set off walking, using his Maps on his phone and ended up in the middle of mountains with nothing around."

"He rang me at about 8 o'clock morning saying his phone was on 1%, he said 'I don't know where I am, I need a drink and my phone is about to die'."

She mentioned that the police had dispatched mountain rescue to the area the previous day. She has spoken to the individuals with whom Jay was staying, who informed her that he left their flat around 8am the previous day to "catch a bus".

Lucy added: "I've never been so worried in my life. I was there all yesterday, a lovely lady messaged me on Facebook and said she had hired a car and would drive me up there. We were there all of yesterday, we were driving around looking around everywhere, looking in all the nooks and crannies."

Jay was last seen wearing a white t-shirt, shorts, and trainers. He was also thought to be carrying a black bag.

Our sister publication, the M. E.N, has reached out to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office regarding Jay's disappearance.