Police in Tenerife have called for volunteers to take part in a major search for missing British teenager Jay Slater.
Officials said the operation will take place on Saturday in the Spanish island’s village of Masca.
In a statement, police said: “The Civil Guard is preparing and coordinating a major search operation to find the missing young British man in the village of Masca.
“We need the cooperation of all volunteer organisations, including civil defence, the fire brigade and other organisations, as well as private volunteers who are specialists in the search areas that are impassable.
“The major search operation will take place on Saturday, 29 June, from 9am.
“Given that this is a rugged, steep and rocky area with numerous valleys, paths and roads, the co-operation of all volunteer organisations able to assist with this operation will be carried out in a targeted and co-ordinated manner and should be requested,” the statement said.
Police said if volunteers wished to take part in the search they should call the Guardia Civil by 8pm tonight on 696434031.
The 19-year-old, from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, went missing after missing his bus and attempting to walk back to his accommodation.
The apprentice bricklayer had been attending the NRG music festival on the island with two friends before his disappearance and was last heard from last Monday.
It would have taken around 11 hours’ walk from Mr Slater’s last known location, Teno Park, a rural area in the north of the island, to the accommodation.
Meanwhile, one of Mr Slater’s friends spoke to ITV’s This Morning about his last video call with the 19-year-old.
Mr Brad, a close friend of Mr Slater, responded in the affirmative when asked by a reporter if he saw the missing teen’s feet slip on a stone. He said that’s how he knew Mr Slater wasn’t on the road.
Mr Brad added that Mr Slater had fallen “a bit down a hill” during his most recent video call.
He said the missing teen was not worried and they both “laughed” about the situation.
“He said, ‘Look where I am’. He didn’t seem concerned on the phone until we found out how far away he was,” Brad said.
“I said, ‘Enter your location’ and he said, ’15 minute drive, 14 hour walk’ so I told him, ‘It’s a 15 minute drive, get a taxi.”
Today’s police statement came as Ms Slater’s family welcomed the help of TikTok creators who are among those leading the online search for the missing teenager.
Arnott shared footage of his search on TikTok and said he came to Tenerife after hearing the family “needed help.”
His efforts have caught the attention of Slater’s family, who contacted him and arranged a meeting on Thursday, according to The Daily Telegraph.
“They stated they`re genuinely pleased with what I’m doing,” Mr Arnott, 29, advised the newspaper.
Mr Slater’s mother, Debbie Duncan, advised the paper she has “each faith” withinside the police and singled out Mr Arnott, who runs the TikTok account Down the Rapids and describes himself as an “explorer”, and every other TikTok author Callum Rahim for thanks.
“[I] can not thank Paul Arnott enough, additionally Callum Rahim and his pals for operating along with the quest and rescue teams,” she stated.
“Myself, well, you recognize the nation of my intellectual fitness and my paranoia, you noticed it first hand. As a family, we’re in a dwelling nightmare.”
Social media has additionally had a darkish aspect for the family, with Ms Duncan and her son’s pals on the centre of conspiracy theories.
The production corporation that employs Mr Slater shared a submit on Facebook in advance on Thursday urging human beings to prevent sending them “cruel” emails and to prevent posting theories online.
Also on Thursday, Ms Duncan stated £36,000 raised via way of means of extra than 3,two hundred donations will assist cowl her lodging and meals prices all through her prolonged live at the island in addition to help rescue teams.