People living around the Masca area in Tenerife, the last known location of missing Lancashire teen Jay Slater, have told reporters that a major safety measure seems to have failed
Navigating through the dense desert vegetation, along narrow dusty paths, dodging cacti barbs and signs warning of falling rocks that tumble from sheer cliff faces, is a task only for experts. The harsh and unforgiving landscape of the area where Jay Slater went missing can easily turn dangerous with one wrong move.
Locals in the Masca area of Tenerife have said that a major safety measure was implemented last year - a sweeping road. According to the residents, it was constructed to make the area safer and easier for people to access.
Despite these precautions, tragedy struck in the remote mountainous town of Masca on June 17, when the 19-year-old Lancashire lad, 19-year-old went missing. This rugged terrain is where his phone was last tracked and where he was last seen.
READ MORE: Missing Jay Slater's mum reveals exact focus of Spanish police investigation
Over two weeks have passed since his disappearance, and the ground search for him has been called off. There's been no sight of him, and Spanish authorities are left without any solid leads on his whereabouts, reports the Manchester Evening News.
A Tenerife local reiterated, "This whole road was built only around a year ago. It was built to make the area safer, to make it easier for people to get in and out of."
A local from Masca pointed out the influx of tourists flocking to the renowned Hilda viewpoint, a spot famed for its breathtaking views of Spain's volcanic landscapes. This very viewpoint turned into the hub of extensive search operations, with teams scouring the deep gorges flanking it in hopes of finding any sign of Jay.
The area was swarming with visitors, police officers, mountain rescue teams, and volunteers on Saturday, all joining forces in what was declared the ultimate effort to find Jay on land. The local remarked: "There are many tourists and many walkers and hikers who come here.
"The road was supposed to make it safer for them, but here we are."
The route to Masca and beyond to Hilda, Calle Turon, is notorious for its challenging drive marked by blind hairpin turns, steep climbs and drops, and mere bollards as the only barrier against the precipitous edges. Despite the risks, the road boasts relatively new tarmac, designated passing points, bus stops for locals, and serves as a vital artery for villagers and tourists alike, with buses full of sightseers heading to the viewpoint.
Yet, this infrastructure was not enough to ensure Jay's safety. It has been over two weeks since his family last had contact with him.
His mobile phone's final signal was detected near this treacherous road, and the Airbnb he rented before his disappearance is situated just off this same route.
The Civil Guard in Tenerife, who have been spearheading the search for 19 year old Jay Slater from Lancashire, announced on Sunday (June 30) that they are suspending their active search efforts. Despite utilising sniffer dogs, helicopters and mountain rescue experts since June 17 when the apprentice bricklayer was reported missing, the search has now been halted.
However, they assured that any new leads or information would still be acted upon.
This significant shift in the case occurred less than a day after a final large-scale search operation. The hopes of hundreds searching for Jay were crushed as the operation, involving around 30 police officers, firefighters, Civil Protection personnel and volunteers, failed to locate him.
Meanwhile, the parallel investigation continues, with police urging anyone with fresh tips or information that could aid progress. Currently, investigators do not suspect foul play in Jay's disappearance, and there is no evidence linking the two individuals who shared an Airbnb with Jay the night before his disappearance to his vanishing.
The search operation has faced backlash from volunteers who have been braving harsh mountainside conditions to aid in the search for Jay. Among them is climber and popular TikTok creator Paul Arnott, hailing from Bedfordshire, who stated that he 'came straight out' after witnessing the desperate pleas for help from Jay's family following his disappearance.
Paul, aged 29, decided to cancel a charity fundraiser and spent hundreds of pounds on a flight to the island to participate in the search and rescue operations on June 22. On Saturday, he posted a scathing TikTok video, labelling the final major search as a "massive PR thing", before the efforts were abruptly halted the next day.
Despite this, he pledged to continue the search alone, criticising the police search by stating that 'nobody is doing anything'. He has stayed in Tenerife since then.
Two days after the news that the search on the ground has been called off, Jay’s mum Debbie Duncan has issued a powerful, heart-breaking message. She is urging the police to keep going.
While 'trying to remain positive', she is terrified of the search for her youngest son 'losing momentum'. She says she can only hope ‘the world will keep watching’.
