Friend fears missing teenager has been 'kidnapped' in Tenerife

19 June 2024 , 13:32

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Jay Slater is pictured hours before he went missing (Image: Submitted)

A close friend of vanished British tourist Jay Slater fears the teenager may have been kidnapped.

Lucy Mae, who earlier described her pal's disappearance as "suspicious", believes someone has given police in Tenerife a "false lead" and the Civil Guard have switched the focus of the search to tourist resorts in the south of the island as a result. It is more than 30 miles from where the search party had gathered at first, in the mountainous area of Rural de Teno.

Lucy Mae, who flew to Tenerife with Jay to attend a three-day rave, said: "Someone has given a false lead to the police saying he’s rang a taxi down to Los Cristianos.

"If this was the case he would have rang his mum or one of us. I know him well and he would not have us worrying. Someone is trying to deter the police from him being up there. I’m starting to think he’s been kidnapped."

Sniffer dogs and mountain rescue experts had been searching for Jay (TNS/SOLARPIX.COM)

The 19-year-old man was last known to be in Rural de Teno park, which is in the northwest of Tenerife (MEN Media)

Los Cristianos is one of several towns in the south of the island popular with holidaymakers, including Brits. It is understood authorities have started a fresh search in and around Los Cristianos. There was no immediate response from the Civil Guard to Lucy Mae's fresh concerns.

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But, asked if she thought the "false lead" was the reason for the switch, the teenager said: "Yes, This is really serious." Jay's mum, Debbie, flew out to the Canary Island today with her eldest son and is said to be "in bits" at the situation, which Lucy Mae had previously described as "suspicious".

Jay's relatives have begged people to stop donating to fake fundraisers, as they've received sickening phone calls from cruel trolls. Family members have also pleaded with strangers to "stop speculating" about the tourist's disappearance.

However, a friend confirmed Jay planned to walk back to his accommodation in Tenerife after missing a bus on Monday morning - a journey expected to take around 11 hours on foot. His phone showed his last whereabouts was in the national park, and Lucy Mae says he was there when she last spoke to him on his mobile - but the phone died during their conversation on Monday.

And police then knocked the door of his family home in Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, telling relatives to get the first flight out to the Canary Island. 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."

Gerard Couzens