Teenager Jay Slater missing in Tenerife as mountain rescue searches for 19-year-old

The family of a missing teenager in Tenerife have “never been more worried” during the search.

Jay Slater, from Oswaldtwistle in Lancashire, traveled to the Canary Islands for a music festival with his friend Lucy and another friend. The 19-year-old was reported missing after deciding to stay with friends he had made over the holidays following a night out in the early hours of June 17.

Their flat was “in the middle of nowhere”, Lucy revealed to the Manchester Evening News. She said Jay “wouldn't have realized” the distance between him and their original accommodation.

The next morning, Jay contacted Lucy to inform her that he was trying to walk home after failing to catch a bus. He informed her that his phone's battery was at 1 percent, that he needed water and “didn't know where he was,” according to Lucy.

His phone then lost power and his last known location appeared to be “in the middle of the mountains, with nothing around”. The location is within the Teno Rural Park – or Teno National Park – which is a favorite spot for hikers.

The nearest town is Santiago del Teide. Lucy said she was desperately looking for her friend on the island.

She said: “He went out for the evening, he went to a friend's house, someone he met on holiday. One of the people he met hired a car from here, so he drove them back to his apartment and Jay went there without realizing how far it was.”

“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 found himself in the middle of the mountains with nothing around. He called me around 8 a.m. to tell me that his phone was on at 1 percent,” he said. “I don’t know where I am, I need a drink and my phone is about to die.”

Lucy said she had lodged several reports with local police in Tenerife and had also contacted the British Embassy. Jay's mother is also on her way to Tenerife. Local authorities confirmed mountain rescue teams were searching for the teenager.

Jay added: “I've never been more worried in my life. I was there just yesterday, a lovely lady messaged me on Facebook and said she had rented a car and that she would take me there,” Lucy added.

“We were there all day yesterday, driving around looking everywhere, looking in every nook and cranny.”

Jay, last seen wearing a white T-shirt with shorts and trainers, is also believed to have a black bag with him.

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