Spanish police have rejected British officers's help in the search for missing Jay Slater.
The 19-year-old apprentice bricklayer, from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, remains missing in Tenerife after his friend Lucy Mae, who had travelled to the island with him to attend the three-day festival, said he stayed with people he had met on holiday after a night out.
The owner of the Airbnb where Jay is thought to have stayed with these people on Sunday claimed she saw Jay walking uphill alone on Monday morning. Speaking outside the holiday cottage in remote nature reserve Tural de Teno, she said: "It’s dangerous walking around here, it’s easy to lose yourself. He walked up the road when I saw him for the last time. He was alone. He was walking normally, though he was fast."
But now Lancashire Police, yet to comment on the case so far, have confirmed the Guardia Civil in Tenerife declined the force's offer to help with the search. This is despite close friends confirming earlier today "no updates" could be shared despite the deployment of helicopters, drones and sniffer dogs across the mountainous terrain.
Mountain rescue teams near to the village of Masca look for Jay Slater (PA)A spokesperson for Lancashire Police said tonight: "First and foremost, our thoughts are with Jay's family at this time. They must be going through the most distressing ordeal not knowing what has happened to their loved one.
Lucas Perez pays part of own transfer fee to rejoin beloved Deportivo
"We have specialist officers who are continuing to support Jay's family. Whilst this case falls outside the jurisdiction of UK policing, we have made an offer of support to the Guardia Civil to see if they need any additional resources.
"They have confirmed that at this time they are satisfied that they have the resources they need, but that offer remains open and they will contact us should that position change. Once again, our thoughts remain with Jay's family and friends at this distressing time."
Should Brit cops be allowed to get involved in the Jay Slater search? Vote in our poll HERE to have your say.
The force's statement comes after Debbie Duncan, Jay's mother, admitted police have become aware of "noise" online affecting the investigation. She said: “We’ve been there [the police station] all day today, and I think it’s been stepped up. We’ve had a problem with the language barrier. It’s difficult with all the Spanish police and British police; they have to let the Spanish police do the investigation.
"They [the police] have actually said that there’s too much noise - that’s affecting it. They’ve got all the plans, their locations. They have got this map they were showing us, all shaded in different colours.”
Jay Slater is pictured in a video which was shared on social mediaNew footage has also since emerged of the teenager at a rave just hours before he disappeared. The clip, posted on social media, claims to be the last video of the teenager - who is seen mingling with other partygoers at a packed out club in Tenerife as music blares in the background. Ravers can be seen milling about the poorly-lit room, with a red circle pinpointing an attendee believed to be Jay.
After a few seconds, the teen can be seen passing in front of the camera, with the footage slowing down as he walks by. The video has since gone viral, racking up 2.2 million views, tens of thousands of likes, and thousands of comments on the social media platform TikTok.
A fundraiser set up by a friend to "get Jay Slater home" has since received more than £24,000 in donations. A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesman 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."
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
