Featured Image Credit: Family Handout
Topics: UK News
Anish Vij
The stepdad of the British teenager who has gone missing in Tenerife said they 'knew it was bad' when police knocked on the front door.
Jay Slater, 19, from Lancashire, was travelling out in Tenerife, attending the New Rave Generation festival with his friends before he got separated from them.
According to his friend, the teenager decided to stay out with a group of people he had just met on Sunday (16 June) evening.
However, on Monday (17 June) morning, he reportedly called his friend and told them he was in the middle of a mountainous area having missed a bus back to the resort, with an 11-hour walk ahead.
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His phone was on one percent when he told his friend that he 'didn't know where he was'.
His stepfather Andy, 63, has since recalled the horrifying moment when police knocked on his mum's home, in Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire.
"It was about 2.30am in the early hours," The 63-year-old told LancsLive.
"When the police said 'the best thing you can do is get yourself out there' we knew it was bad.
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"This was his first holiday on his own. I'm just hoping he's gone to another party.
"She said she'll make contact with the consular office and then ring me but I've not heard anything yet."
In a statement, a spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office said: "We are supporting the family of a British man who has been reported missing in Spain and are in contact with the local authorities."
Jay was reportedly last seen wearing a white t-shirt with shorts and trainers.
He was also carrying a black bag with him.
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A spokesperson for the regional emergency co-ordination centre in Tenerife also said in a statement: "The Civil Guard are coordinating this operation because they’re responsible for investigations involving missing people.
"We’re acting as support to them and they’re the ones who are asking for more resources as and when they feel they’re needed.
"The Civil Guard is involved as well as firefighters and Civil Protection workers who have two drones.
"Yesterday a regional government helicopter was mobilised but today it’s a Civil Guard helicopter as well as the Greim mountain specialist team.
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"The alert about this missing youngster was received at four minutes past 9am yesterday and the search began soon after and went on into the night.
"My understanding is this man has subsequently been formally reported as missing to the police."