The hunt for Jay Slater is a testing one for local search authorities with “hidden traps” in the area of Tenerife where he went missing, according to a local journalist.
Local journalist Clio O’Flynn spoke on GB News about the geographical realities authorities are having to contend with as the search for the 19-year-old continues for a third day.
She told Tom Harwood and Emily Carver they will be using “everything at their disposal” in a bid to find Slater.
“The mountain rescue team know this terrain”, said O’Flynn.
Clio O'Flynn says search teams face 'hidden traps'
GB NEWS / HANDOUT
“I know there has been some criticism because they have asked for volunteer teams to stay away from certain parts of the search because they just simply might be getting in the way.
“They are using everything at their disposal, these are not simply roads and mountains to be searched.
Clio O'Flynn joined Tom Harwood and Emily Carver on GB News
GB NEWS
“There are gulfs, there are ravines, these are volcanic zones, so they do have hidden traps if you’re walking down.”
The Tenerife-based reporter said the teen is likely to have gone off road as he made his way back to his accommodation in the morning after a night out.
She said: “From what we gather, Jay would have gone off the road because there’s only one road up to the area that his phone was last pinged from.
“If he wasn’t on the main road, the only speculation that you can conclude is that he went off the road and onto one of the unmarked paths to try and make his way down to the coast.
Jay Slater flew from Lancashire to the Canary Islands for a music festival when he disappeared PA Wire“This is a difficult area to search, and they have been using everything at their disposal.
“I think most of the expat community who have been following the search and rescue and helping the family are actually appreciative of the work that the police are doing.”
The 19-year-old from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, was last heard from on Monday morning as he told a friend he planned to make an 11-hour trip back to his accommodation.
Lucy – who went to the island with him to attend the festival – told the Manchester Evening News (MEN) that he had gone to stay with people he had met on holiday after a night out.
She said she had received a call from Slater at around 8.15am on Monday after he missed the bus and was trying to walk back although he said he was lost, needed a drink of water and had only one per cent battery on his phone.