Bedfordshire climber Paul Arnott joins search in Tenerife

An adventurer and mountaineer says “being an honest human” motivated him to travel to Tenerife to help search for missing teenager Jay Slater.

Paul Arnott, 29, from Flitwick in Bedfordshire, canceled a charity fundraiser to travel to the island and join the search and rescue operation on Saturday.

Mr Arnott said: “I know these environments, I know how harsh and scary they are without experience.”

“You have to be the best person you can be,” he added.

“I spend all my time in the mountains, I’ve been involved in search and rescue operations in Scotland before, it’s what I do.”

The climber says he has been helping with the search every day since his arrival and won't leave until the teen is found.

“Drones and helicopters are good, but they don’t capture everything,” he added.

“You will examine the most dangerous areas such as ravines and areas [where] there is a risk of rock falls. »

Mr Arnott was due to take part in a 500-mile fundraising walk for Scottish Mountain Rescue before hearing the appeal for help in the search.

When asked why he went to the island to take part in the operation, he replied: “It's just being a decent human person, someone needs help, come on.” help. I like to think that someone would do the same for me.”

“I don’t tolerate hot countries well, it makes me sick, but it has to be done.

“I'll stay here until we find him.”