A missing persons expert has called for "urgent action" to "unanswered questions" in the search for missing teen Jay Slater, as efforts to find him have reached their third day.
Slater disappeared whilst on holiday on the island with friends, having attended the NRG music festival. He was last seen getting into a silver car with those he had met at the festival, before ringing his friend Lucy the morning after to tell her he was on his way home after missing the bus.
Speaking to The Mirror, Slater's friend Lucy Law claimed the two people he was last with have "left the country", urging British Police to speak to them.
She added: "We need British police here. I just want to find my mate. He’s been missing three days. It’s not looking good now. We feel as though it’s down to us to find him and that we’re doing more than the police."
Charlie Hedges says there are 'unanswered questions' regarding Jay Slater's disappearance
PA / GB News / Reuters
Speaking to GB News, missing persons expert Charlie Hedges claimed there is a "precedent" for UK authorities to get involved with the search and assist the Spanish Police.
However, he admitted that there are a number of "legal loopholes" the British police would need to jump through in order to fly out to the island.
When asked about the claims made by Slater's friend about the two individuals who have "left the country" without being questioned, Hedges told host Martin Daubney there are "unanswered questions" about what happened to the teen.
Hedges explained: "The two people who allegedly took Jay away from the party and having reportedly left the island - what's going on there? Where did they take him?
Jay Slater attended a music festival in Tenerife on Sunday night, but was reported missing on Monday
GB News / Google Earth
"We've heard stuff about him possibly getting on a bus or not getting on a bus. All these things are critical to understand what's going on, and we need to know his circumstances and what's caused him to go missing."
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Noting the importance of the two people Slater was last known to have been with, Martin affirmed that it is a "matter of urgency" that these "key people" are investigated.
Hedges responded: "Absolutely. They are critical to this, it may be perfectly innocent, but there are unanswered questions which need to be looked at to understand what's going on.
"Why did he go with them? Where did they go to and why have they left the island? Is that planned or is it rather sudden? We now need to know those answers."
When questioned on the terrain of the island of Tenerife and how Slater may have been coping after going missing, Hedges revealed that the environment is "rugged" and people must "stay hydrated" to withstand the heat this time of year.
Charlie Hedges says the terrain in Tenerife will have a 'devastating impact' on the body
GB News
Hedges told GB News: "It's very rugged terrain, you need to refresh yourself with water regularly. It has a devastating impact on the body while you're physically exerting yourself.
"So we need to search urgently to try and find him and locate him as soon as possible."
He continued: "With the physical search of the ground, they need to be using the resources that they have and making sure that is properly structured and they're looking in the right areas.
"The other side is answering some of the questions that have been raised, particularly about the two people Jay was last known to be with."