Search groups scour ‘harsh terrain’ for lacking Brit

Search groups are scouring a patch of “harsh terrain” in a nationwide park in Tenerife as they search for a lacking British man.

Jay Slater, 19, from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, flew to the island for a music pageant, however has not been seen or heard from since Monday.

He had known as his good friend from a path on the mountainous Rural de Teno nationwide park within the north-west of the island.

The search operation, which incorporates police, mountain rescue groups, firefighters and volunteers, has entered its third day.

Mr Slater was final heard from shortly earlier than 09:00 BST on Monday when he known as his good friend, Lucy Regulation, saying he was misplaced, thirsty and had 1% battery on his cellphone.

The Guardia Civil, the island’s police pressure, instructed the BBC the search had briefly moved to the Los Cristianos space within the south of the island on Wednesday as a result of a possible lead.

Nevertheless that info was “discounted” and the search returned to Rural de Teno, across the village of Masca, the place it continues, a spokeswoman mentioned.

The pressure mentioned a helicopter launch had been delayed as a result of local weather, however was prone to resume quickly, whereas canines and drones had been additionally becoming a member of the search.

Mr Slater’s mom, Debbie Duncan, has instructed the BBC her son was on his first vacation overseas with mates.

She flew to the island and joined the search, and mentioned: “I’ve not slept in any respect, it is prefer it’s not actual.”

Apprentice bricklayer, Mr Slater had attended the three-day NRG music pageant in Playa de las Americas within the south of the island.

He left with two males he met there and ended up in a home about 40 minutes drive away in a rural space.

Ms Regulation mentioned he instructed her he had missed a bus, and was as an alternative trying the 10-hour stroll house, however the name then ended.

When the Guardia Civil spokeswoman was requested if officers had spoken to the 2 males Mr Slater left the pageant with, she mentioned: “It is a part of the investigation, I can’t inform you extra.”

Mr Slater’s final identified location has been the location of intense searches.

The realm is filled with vegetation and small, winding roads.

An announcement from Volunteer Firefighters of Santiago del Teide described the way it had joined the search effort.

It mentioned: “We had been activated to proceed with the seek for the younger man shifting 4 autos with 16 firefighters along with native police, firefighters from Guia de Isora, mountain civil guard, Guardia Civil unit of civil guard canines, household and mates of the younger man.”

A Fb group arrange by Mr Slater’s family and friends to assist co-ordinate the search effort has attracted greater than 350,000 members.

Ms Regulation posted within the group: “We want as many individuals as potential up there trying to find him please.

“We shall be up there once more very first thing, nonetheless a search celebration goes to be vital to look in every single place as the realm could be very large.

“For those who may help, please do, we have to get him house.”

British journalist Chris Elkington, editor of the Canarian Weekly, instructed the BBC the terrain at Mr Slater’s final identified location was “harsh”.

He mentioned: “It is a rural park the place you get loads of climbing trails, it’s extremely mountainous, fairly sparse, fairly barren.

“Fairly deserty in loads of methods, with some very deep ravines and valleys.

“It is definitely someplace you wouldn’t need to be in regular circumstances with out the proper footwear, significantly with out water.”