Jay Slater: Internet sleuths scramble to Tenerife to join search for missing teen in echo of Nicola Bulley case

During his final call to his friend Lucy Law at 8am local time last Monday, the 19-year-old said his phone had only one per cent battery, he was thirsty, and he did not know where he was.

TikTok users searching for answers have travelled to Rural de Teno Park to look for the teenager themselves. The popular hiking spot was Slater’s last known location.

In clips posted online, the sleuths have described the "very difficult" terrain, which is covered with cacti, steep cliffs and has an unforgiving altitude.

Amateur detectives also flocked to the village of St Michael’s on Wyre, Lancashire, where Bulley was last seen walking her dog in January 2023.

Searching the river path, caravan park and fields where she was last seen, the content creators shared their videos online, leading to many conspiracy theories forming about what may have happened.

Lancashire Police issued a warning telling people “playing private detective” to stay away as they were getting in the way of the proper rescue teams.

Countless conspiracy theories have also been floating around Slater, including that he faked his disappearance to gain money from a fundraising page, that he has been kidnapped after a failed drug deal which accumulated a lot of debt, and that he has run away after pocketing the money from said deal and is now lying low.

Alongside the speculation, vile messages have been sent to Slater’s family and friends have even claimed that the 19-year-old’s Instagram has been hacked.

Hitting out at the reaction, Rachel Hargreaves, a friend of Slater's who is currently out in Tenerife, wrote on Facebook: "All the groups are full of trolls and sickos.

"I can’t believe some people are actually this sick in the head there are people hacking my accounts and Jay's family’s making it pure lies and pretending we are all in it," she said.

"Jay's missing and it’s absolutely soul destroying."

A police source has claimed that Spanish officers could be considering a TV appeal - which could involve the teenager’s parents Debbie Duncan and Warren Slater - for information on the missing teen.

"Although it’s still entirely possible Jay got disoriented and went missing after getting lost, cops aren’t ruling anything out," the source close to the investigation told The Sun.

"They are open-minded to other scenarios which is why they are considering an appeal that would speak directly to people living locally who might have vital information.

"It’s a race against time and although no resources are being cut back, the next few days are absolutely crucial."