Family of missing Tenerife teenager Jay Slater say he was 'talked to' about holiday

The missing teenager's stepfather Jay Slater claimed his friends had to “convince the 19-year-old to go to Tenerife”.

The search for Jay on the island is in its fourth day since the apprentice mason was reported missing on Monday. Jay had flown with friends to attend a music festival, but failed to return to their apartment after staying out Sunday night.

Jay's mother, Debbie Duncan, flew to Tenerife on Tuesday morning after being informed of his disappearance by officers from Lancashire Police. Other family members, including Jay's uncle Glen, joined him yesterday (Wednesday), Lancs Live reports.

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Speaking from the family home in Oswaldtwistle, Jay's stepfather Andy Watson revealed the teenager was reluctant to go abroad.

Jay traveled to Tenerife earlier this month to attend the three-day NRG music festival. “[His friends] I had to convince him to go,” Andy, 63, told LancsLive. “He wasn't really keen.”

Jay's mother Debbie also described how it was necessary to persuade her youngest son to go on holiday.

“I wish I hadn’t encouraged him to go,” Debbie told ITV.

The last reported contact with Jay was around 8:50 a.m. Monday morning, when he spoke to his friend Lucy.

She said Jay told her he missed the bus and planned to walk back to their apartment.

Jay's cell phone turned off unexpectedly, his last known location indicated by a dot in Teno Rural Park. This secluded spot boasts a rugged landscape popular with hikers and is an arduous 11-hour journey on foot from Jay's accommodation.

Speaking to the MEN, Lucy said an acquaintance Jay had made on Sunday evening drove him back to his apartment in their rental vehicle, unaware of the considerable distance between them and their location.

Lucy said: “He ended up in the middle of nowhere. Jay obviously thought he could get home from there. But in the morning he went for a walk, using his maps on his phone and going is found in the middle of the mountains with nothing around.

READ MORE: 'Police spoke' to men seen with missing Jay Slater in Tenerife