The search for Jay Slater, a 19-year-old British teenager who vanished in Tenerife, has been called off by local authorities, sparking controversy and disappointment among volunteers and holidaymakers.
Jay was last seen on 17 June after informing a friend of his intention to trek from Masca, a village in the northwest, to his holiday lodgings in Los Cristianos, situated in the south. This journey, on foot, would have taken approximately 11 hours.
Paul Arnott, a volunteer who travelled to Tenerife to assist in the search efforts, has criticised the final police-organised search as a “massive PR exercise”. Arnott, who has been documenting his search efforts on social media platform TikTok, expressed frustration with the lack of organisation and productivity during Saturday’s volunteer search event.
Despite the police’s call for volunteers to participate in a large-scale search in the Masca area, Arnott reported that the turnout and coordination fell short of expectations. He described a scene of inaction, with people remaining in their vehicles instead of actively searching.
The volunteer search party, comprising 30 to 40 individuals, scoured a vast expanse of challenging, hilly terrain. However, their efforts yielded no significant leads.
Jay’s family, including his mother Debbie Duncan, father Warren, and brother Zak, had previously flown to Tenerife to aid in the search alongside local police and mountain rescue teams. Ms Duncan expressed her confidence in the police efforts and gratitude towards volunteers like Paul Arnott.
While the official search has concluded, police have stated that the investigation into Jay’s disappearance remains open. They have suggested the possibility of future searches in the southern part of the island, though no concrete plans have been announced.
The incident has left an impact on tourists visiting Tenerife. Some British holidaymakers reported feeling more cautious and implementing additional safety measures, such as sharing location data with travel companions. Others expressed disappointment at the apparent lack of visible search efforts, noting an absence of missing person posters and limited police patrols.
Jay’s last known movements have been pieced together by investigators. He had been holidaying with friends in southern Tenerife before travelling to Masca with two acquaintances he met at the NRG music festival on 16 June. The following morning, at approximately 8:30 AM, Jay made a distressing phone call to a friend. He reported being lost, in need of water, and with his mobile phone battery nearly depleted.
As the search efforts wind down, many questions remain unanswered about Jay Slater’s disappearance. The case continues to concern both locals and visitors to the popular holiday destination, highlighting the importance of safety precautions when travelling abroad.
