TikTok influencer Paul Arnott has said he could set up his own fundraising page as he continues the search for missing 19-year-old Jay Slater in Tenerife who disappeared on June 17
A TikTok influencer and amateur climber who has been searching for missing teen Jay Slater said he may start his own crowdfunding page.
Paul Arnott, who has been backed by Jay’s heartbroken mum Debbie and is in regular contact with the family, says that despite Spanish police announcing on Sunday they are stopping their search, he will keep going. Speaking on his TikTok channel, the 29-year-old said: “I’m gonna stay here until we find Jay. I’m gonna do my best, I really am.
“Moving forward a lot of new things have come out due to interviews. There are quite a few things I’m gonna chase up today as well. One is a three-word GPS. The other, apart from that, is a pair of sunglasses that were found by a man called Chris, who I’ll be meeting up with later today.”
And Paul is now reportedly thinking of setting up his own appeal to raise money for a team from Scotland mountain rescue to come out to Tenerife and help in the search over treacherous terrain.
Paul has been criticised by some claiming that he is in Tenerife to boost his own social media profile and his TikTok video has clickbait titles to draw in viewers. Many of his clips have told about his own problems such as losing the keys to where he is staying or trying to find a SIM card.
Paul, who is “convinced” Jay is somewhere in the mountainside, says he is speaking with the family. “They are so amazing and lovely. They just want to find Jay and I want to help them,” he told the Daily Mail. “They keep offering to pay for my food and accommodation, but I keep telling them no.
“I don’t want anything and I don’t want anything from the GoFundMe site. What I would be interested in doing is setting up my own fund to pay for a team from Scotland Mountain Rescue to come out here.” A GoFundMe page set up by Jay’s friend Lucy Law for his family has so far raised more than 47,000.
Jay’s mother, Debbie Duncan, travelled to the island as the search took place. She said the money raised online would be used to support mountain rescue teams, and to cover her own accommodation and food costs.
