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Jay Slater’s mum spends 8 hours in Tenerife police station amid fears for teen

22 June 2024 , 13:55
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Jay
Jay's mum Debbie today slammed the Tenerife investigation and revealed a possible new sighting of her missing son

JAY Slater's mum Debbie Duncan spent eight hours in a police station in Tenerife on Friday before slamming their investigation to find her son.

The distraught mum said cops have "stepped up" their search, now in its sixth day but fears something bad may have happened to him.

Missing Brit teenager Jay Slater, last seen in northern Tenerife on Monday morning eiqrtidzqietprw
Missing Brit teenager Jay Slater, last seen in northern Tenerife on Monday morningCredit: LancsLive/MEN
Jay's mum Debbie Duncan has slammed the police investigation
Jay's mum Debbie Duncan has slammed the police investigation
Cops, firefighters and mountain rescue are in the sixth day of their search operation in Tenerife
Cops, firefighters and mountain rescue are in the sixth day of their search operation in TenerifeCredit: Ian Whittaker

Debbie told The Guardian she spent the day in a police station as they shared plans with her for ramping up the rescue effort.

She said: "I think its been stepped up", but still worries "something untoward" could have happened to her son.

Tenerife cops have promised her they will "investigate all leads" after vowing to keep an "open mind" on Wednesday.

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Jay, from Lancashire, has been missing on the island since Monday morning after he got lost in the mountainous terrain of northern Tenerife.

Cops are currently focusing on a 2,000ft ravine and the surrounding Masca area near the Rural de Teno Park - Jay's last known location.

Debbie said: “They’ve got all the plans, their locations. They have got this map they were showing us, shaded different colours.

"It’s difficult with all the Spanish police and British police, they have to let the Spanish police do the investigation, but I want somebody to come out here.”

On Friday Lancashire Constabulary offered to help Spain's Guardia Civil in their efforts to find the teenager.

But local police rejected the bid and insisted they have the "resources" required to find the missing 19-year-old.

Debbie slammed their refusal of help and said she has even screamed and shouted at members of the local force.

She told Mail Online: "I know the Spanish police mean well, but the problem we are having is the language barrier, we just don't seem to be getting told. I'm sure they are doing their best.

"They told me they had used dogs and drones and then they said Lancashire police had offered their resources but they turned it down, but I think that would have really helped.

"I would feel happier if our people were over helping. It's just so difficult not knowing where he is, the area and the terrain is rough, but the police were saying that now there are too many people up there and it could interfere with their investigation."

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It comes as...

  • Bombshell new vid shows Jay at a rave hours being he vanished
  • Pics show Airbnb teen partied at before going missing
  • Jay was spotted 'walking alone' into mountains by Airbnb owner
  • Jay's mum was sent a message saying "kiss goodbye to your son" amid family fears he's been kidnapped
  • She gave a tearful plea and said "I just want my baby back"
  • Cops searched the teen's hotel room in Tenerife for clues
  • A possible new sighting of the teen placed him with two men on Monday at 6pm - 10 hours after he vanished
  • Brit cops offered to fly out and help but Spanish officials said no

Jay’s last-known location was on a mountain road on the north west side of the island on Monday, in the desolate Teno Nature Reserve.

Locals and experts have warned of the treacherous conditions in the area - where the air is "thin", temperatures change rapidly and the mountains drop sharply to the water below.

Andrew Knight, who runs Sanasty Car Hire Tenerife, has lent his vehicles to help in the hunt.

He told The Mirror: “You’re up there, it’s very thin air, you’ve got cloud around.

“It does go very cold at night, especially with the thin air and the wind chill. It would be pretty cold if you were up there without jumpers and jackets and things.”

And Jonathan Stones, who moved to Tenerife more than two decades ago at 13, said the Teno Nature Reserve is one of the island’s most inhospitable spots.

He told The Sun: “Where Jay was last located through his mobile phone is where he stands the least chance of survival.

“The desolate landscapes around the island’s holiday hotspots are referred to as ‘malpais’ by locals — a word that translates into English as ‘bad land’.”

Debbie, speaking from Tenerife, also revealed today that her son may have been spotted with two men some ten hours after he was last seen on Monday morning.

She told Mail Online: "Someone has come forward to say they saw someone who they thought was Jay walking back down the road sat on a bench.

"He was with two men looking a bit worse for wear, and they were by a church, this guy has come forward and told the police about it and they are looking into it.

"We don't know if it was Jay for sure, but it's a start."

Debbie, 55, has been in Tenerife since Tuesday helping with the massive police search for her 19-year-old son.

She described her distress as the amount of bogus conspiracy theories being bandied around online: "I've seen some things on social media but now I'm staying off that, I'm just shattered, I'm so exhausted."

Spanish cops refused the help of British forces on Friday
Spanish cops refused the help of British forces on FridayCredit: MEN Media

Ellie Doughty

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