Police searching for Jay Slater say it is 'highly unlikely' the teen survived

LEARN MORE: Jay Slater's family releases GoFundMe update in new statement after £36,000 raised

The search for Jay, originally from Oswaldtwistle in Lancashire, began on the evening of June 17 when he was reported missing by a friend at Icod de Los Vinos police station, a 45-minute drive north- west of Masca, where the teenager was last seen. Follow live research updates here.

Police say there is no question of stopping the search yet, despite growing fears of finding a body. The Civil Guard, which is leading the operation near Masca, said today it was continuing as normal.

A spokesperson said: “The Civil Guard continues to search for the missing British boy, inspecting all paths, trails and ravines belonging to the village of Masca, in the municipality of Buenavista del Norte.”

The force also released images showing officers moving on foot over some rugged and isolated terrain and others carrying out aerial inspections aboard the Civil Guard helicopter.

A well-placed source added: “No one is talking yet about the end of the search, although it is very unlikely that Jay would have survived if he got lost in the mountains as we have been told.

“There will come a time when the current operation will have to at least be scaled back, but for now the search teams seem to have decided to give themselves more time.”

Jay's mother, Debbie Duncan, today revealed that some of the money donated via an online fundraiser would be used to support mountain rescue efforts.

The Get Jay Slater home GoFundMe appeal has now surpassed its initial target of £30,000 by more than £8,000.

In her update on the page, Debbie said: “We are currently working with GoFundMe to withdraw a portion of the funds, which are being held securely.

“I wanted to share that these funds will be used to support the mountain rescue teams who are tirelessly searching for Jay. Additionally, as our stay in Tenerife is to be extended, we will also use the funds to cover accommodation and food costs.

“I am surrounded by wonderful people who are by my side, but away from their loved ones, which is why we will also use part of these funds to transport them to Tenerife so that we can support each other during these dark times.”

Police have described the area they are scouring north of the Masca Gorge, which was the focus of their searches in the first days after Jay's disappearance, as “huge”.

They said earlier this week: “Officers involved in the search are scouring ancient terrain in the gorge, but teams are also examining other areas such as forest trails and tracks in other parts of Buenavista del Norte .

“We're talking about a huge area. We're not going to go into the finer details of the search or make an ongoing comment, but everything is being done to find this missing man and we continue to keep an open mind with this. about what could have happened to him.

Information about the parallel behind-the-scenes investigation, during which detectives questioned Jay's family and friends and retrieved CCTV footage which they believe could contain clues to his whereabouts, is being withheld from the press or the public.

Jay disappeared after returning to Masca with two British men he had met at a three-day rave and who were staying at a rented Airbnb in the village.

He was seen leaving the village heading north on a winding mountain road by a local woman whom he had previously stopped in the village to ask for bus times so he could return to his hotel in the south from the island.

Ofelia Medina Hernandez spoke about the sighting late last week, saying: “He was alone when I first saw him just before eight o'clock Monday morning.

“He asked me what time the bus was coming, but he didn’t tell me where he wanted to go.

“I told him it happened at ten o'clock and as he obviously didn't understand, he asked me the same question again and this time I raised my finger to indicate that it was ten o'clock.

“Then I returned home briefly before starting to drive towards the town of Buenavista del Norte and that's when I saw him again, but this time walking on the road that came out of the village of the same side than me.

“It must have been no later than 8:10am and it was about a kilometre from where I had seen him at home.

“He was alone and he was walking quite fast. I walked past him and that's the last time I saw him. I gave that information to the police and I don't know anymore.”