Jay Slater disappeared more than two weeks ago in a remote area of Tenerife and while a police search for the 19-year-old has been called, a former detective believes he could still be alive
A former detective believes that missing teenager Jay Slater could still be alive if he has found water and plants to feed on.
Jay, 19, from Lancashire, disappeared on June 17 in the northwest of Tenerife after staying at an Airbnb in the remote village of Masca. He was last heard from when he spoke to a friend by phone and said that he was planning to walk back to the south of the island – a trek of about 11 hours – before his battery died.
A major search by Spanish police was called off last Sunday although they are continuing to investigate the case. His family have remained in Tenerife as they hope to find him alive.
And missing person expert Charlie Hedges, who is a former police sergeant, reportedly said it is “certainly possible” that Jay is alive if he has access to rainwater and plants to eat.
“It’s certainly possible. I think it’s important to let the investigation keep all lines of inquiry open until they’re proven to be not viable,” he told The Sun.
“It is quite a long time to survive without food. Depends on how much rain there is, as to whether there’s sufficient water. But certainly, one should always consider that possibility.”
While a surveying expert, Brian Harrison, a British ex-pat living in Tenerife, believes Jay could have taken the Masca Gorge Trail, a popular hiking route. The 57-year-old says the route, known locally as Barranco de Masca, can be extremely perilous if hikers diverge from the path. But he added that the area also has dozens of narrow aqueducts and waterfalls meaning Jay could have found access to water.
He said: “Logic suggests that if Jay did get lost, maybe he was heading down towards the ocean. It’s feasible he has taken the Masca Gorge Trail and has fallen and injured himself. There are some sheer drops along the route, there is danger. If he’s fallen it is feasibly possible that he’s got some water from somewhere, meaning he could still be alive, it’s a possibility.”
Mr Harrison, who is also the Secretary General of the Tenerife Ecological Association, added: “The area has lots of aqueducts that farmers use to feed their goats and there’s a waterfall down there.” Jay’s mum Debbie Duncan has said donations will be used to support volunteers helping to find her son.
In a statement on the GoFundMe appeal Get Jay Slater Home, which had raised almost £50,000, Debbie thanked the “vast” generosity of donors, saying her family are “grateful for all of your support and kindness during this unimaginable time”.
Ms Duncan wrote that part of the funds will be used to support volunteers hunting for him in the mountains near where his last phone call was traced. She went on: “We are currently looking after Paul Arnett, putting together a package of any equipment and essentials he needs and going up to do a drop for him.
“We are also supporting Callum Fahim and his group with accommodation and other essentials.” The remaining money will be used to support rescue teams, Ms Duncan said, as well as her family’s “own expenses as we remain in Tenerife looking for our boy”. She added: “We will continue to keep you all updated on the progress on our GoFundMe page, and we thank you for your continued support. Please keep sharing and supporting our fundraiser to help us bring Jay home.”
