Yahoo News Teen missing in Tenerife told friend 'my phone is about to die'
A desperate appeal has been launched by family and friends of a teenager who has gone missing in Tenerife. Jay Slater travelled to the Spanish island for a musical festival with his friend Lucy and another pal.
The 19-year-old has been reported missing after he went to stay with people he met on the Canary Island, reports the MEN.
Lucy said the apartment they were staying in was in "the middle of nowhere". She added Jay "would not have realised" the distance from where they were staying.
On Monday, Lucy said Jay, from Lancashire, called her to and said he was trying to walk back to their apartment as he was not able to get a bus. He reportedly added he only had 1% charge on his phone and "didn't know where he was" and needed a drink.
READ: Car cruising could be banned in Newcastle as council flooded with 'boy racer' complaints - Newcastle Borough Council is looking at introducing a public space protection order banning car cruising
READ: The 21 candidates in the running to become Stoke-on-Trent's newest MPs - All three seats in the Potteries were won by the Conservatives in 2019
His phone then died with his last location showing as being in "the middle of mountains with nothing around". The location is in the Rural de Teno Park - or the National Park of Teno - which is popular with hiker].
The closest town is Santiago del Teide. Lucy said she is now frantically searching for her friend. She said she has made several reports to local police in Tenerife and has also been in touch with the British Embassy. Jay's mum is also on the way to Tenerife, she added.
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 police had informed her they dispatched mountain rescue to the area yesterday. Lucy has been in contact with the individuals Jay was with, who indicated he left their apartment around 8am yesterday 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 paired with shorts and trainers, and is thought to have been carrying a black bag.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office said: "We are supporting the family of a British man who has been reported missing in Spain and are in contact with the local authorities."
