Tenerife police call off search for UK teen missing on Spanish island

2 days ago

Police have called off the search for missing British teenager Jay Slater, who disappeared after attending a music festival on the Spanish island of Tenerife.

Jay Slater missing Tenerife - Figure 1
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The 19-year-old apprentice bricklayer from Lancashire in north-west England was last heard from on June 17.

He called his travel companion Lucy Law to say he was lost and attempting to walk back to their accommodation, but needed water.

Slater, 19, had travelled to the island to attend a music festival with two friends. (Facebook)

"He wasn't aware of his surroundings, he desperately needed a drink and his phone was on 1 per cent," she said, on an online fundraiser.

"He had met two people on Sunday night and left with them to go to their apartment. Their apartment was miles away from civilisation and in a very secluded location."

Jay Slater missing Tenerife - Figure 2
Photo 9News

Law said Slater was wearing only shorts and a T-shirt, inappropriate for both the warm daytime weather and cold nightly lows.

The 19-year-old apprentice bricklayer from Lancashire in north-west England was last heard from on June 17. (Supplied)Tenerife is a popular destination for English tourists. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The case has attracted intense public interest in England, Spain and overseas as authorities combed the Canary Islands off the coast of Africa with helicopters, search dogs and drones.

Jay Slater missing Tenerife - Figure 3
Photo 9News

Activity on his Instagram account briefly raised hopes last week before supporters said someone had "hacked" into it. They've also condemned the "trolling" of some people helping with the search.

Police announced a renewed "mass search" for the missing teen on Friday but on Sunday confirmed that had wrapped up.

"The search operation is no longer active, but the case is still open and there are several lines of investigation," a Civil Guard spokeswoman said.

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