Jay Slater father insists he will “leave it to the experts” rather than search for the missing boy himself in dangerous terrain.
Warren Slater, 58, admitted he was trolled for not taking part in today’s massive search operation for the 19-year-old bricklayer apprentice who went missing in Tenerife almost two weeks ago.
“I’m grateful to the people who came out here because it shows how dangerous it is here. And what upsets me is the presence of vandals who attack us just because we’re not looking,” Warren said today.
“This is not a local park, this is a big mountain and the terrain is dangerous. Put yourself in our shoes. Would you go out in these conditions? It’s difficult, it’s difficult, we’re leaving it to the experts, and I’m grateful to the people who came out today, and I want to thank them for their work
But the search in the rough countryside has yielded nothing.” It’s worth mentioning. That means there will be no formal downsizing and the operation is likely to enter its 14th day on Sunday. After today’s action, Ms Warren added: “I thought he’d gone out and had a few drinks and ended up with a girl, like we all did when we were younger. He’s our youngest and we just want him to come home.
“I still can’t believe it. It’s so hard for us and I just want people to think about us as parents and what we’re going through. All these vandals targeting us, they don’t know how we feel. I think it’s time to come out here and look around and see for yourself how dangerous it is.”
The search is now focused on a rugged, rocky area with ravines, trails and paths near the village of Maska, Jay’s last known location.
Brigadier Cipriano Martin, head of the Guardia Civil Mountain Rescue Team, said the Lancashire teenager would not have gone into “area where we don’t go”.
Through an interpreter, he told the BBC: “But I have to be clear: Jay wouldn’t have gone into the areas we wouldn’t have gone into either.
“You have to think logically. If there was vegetation in front of me that impaled me and blocked my way, he wouldn’t have gone through that area either. Of course you have to go logically.