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Sick hoax callers prank mum of British teen missing in Tenerife

18 June 2024 , 15:37
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Jay, from Lancashire, disappeared on Monday with a major search operation sent out on the island (Image: SOLARPIX.COM)
Jay, from Lancashire, disappeared on Monday with a major search operation sent out on the island (Image: SOLARPIX.COM)

The mum of a missing British teen who disappeared in Tenerife has said she is "beside herself with worry", revealing that sick trolls had been making prank calls claiming to have her son.

Jay Slater hasn't been seen since 8am on Monday while on the Spanish island for a music festival. The 19-year-old from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, was with a friend who he called to say he was lost and had only 1% battery on his phone, before being cut off. He hasn't been seen or heard from since.

Now mum Debbie has flown over to the Canary Islands to help with the search for her son and she spoke out abut her fears for Jay's welfare. “I’ve only been in Tenerife for about 10 minutes and I’ve just had a quick chat with someone from the British Embassy and am waiting for them to call back so I know a bit more," she said. "The consulate has been really good so far."

Debbie also told how twisted Brits with “northern accents” had been phoning her with hidden numbers and claiming they had her son captive and were keeping him because he owed them money. She said: “Some of the phone calls I’ve been getting have been horrible. I just don’t know why people would want to do things like this.

“I’ve been getting lots of prank calls. It’s sickening. People ringing me and saying they’ve got Jay because he owes them money. But it’s not putting me off and I want to keep this in the news because it’s going to increase the chances of Jay being found safe and well which is obviously what we’re praying for.”

Woman falls to death from 60ft-high flat window putting up Christmas decorations eiddixqiqkrprwWoman falls to death from 60ft-high flat window putting up Christmas decorations

Debbie has travelled to the south of the island where Jay was staying. His last known location however shows as the mountainous Rural de Teno national park in the north west. The teen had been at a three-day festival and was messaging friends on Snapchat before going missing.

Sick hoax callers prank mum of British teen missing in TenerifeThe 19-year-old had been holidaying with friends and was in Tenerife fore a music festival when he disappeared on Monday (SOLARPIX.COM)

“I’m obviously beside myself with worry which is why I’ve flown out here with my eldest son to do anything we can to help," Debbie added. “We’re just praying the police or someone finds Jay. I know there’s a mountain rescue team out and a helicopter.

“Nothing’s ever going to be enough when your youngest son’s gone missing but it sounds as if the police here are taking this very seriously and doing the best job they can.” She added: “He’d been at a three-day festival so he would have consumed a fair bit of alcohol but Jay was Snapchatting with friends before he went missing and seemed very compos mentis.

Sick hoax callers prank mum of British teen missing in TenerifeHis last known whereabouts can be traced to a mountainous region in the north of the island (SOLARPIX.COM)

“I just think it was a question of him not knowing the island well enough because it was his first time here and being a bit disorientated when it came to distances and not realising it was a 10-hour walk from where he went missing to his holiday accommodation. I know the last place he spoke to his friend Lucy from was in the mountains and I think the police have got a more precise location now.

“I imagine they’re also speaking to the people whose place he went back to. Once I’ve spoken to the British consulate again I’ll be clearer about what I’m going to do but I imagine we will head up north nearer the spot Jay was when he disappeared.”

Gerard Couzens

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