The search operation for Jay Dean Slater, the young British visitor who disappeared a week ago on Monday, has been expanded to various areas of Buenavista del Norte, extending beyond the Masca gorge where he was last seen before his mobile phone battery died.
Sources from the Civil Guard leading the operation have confirmed to EFE that “all lines of investigation remain open.”
Several British media outlets have reported a “possible sighting” of the young man in Santiago del Teide, nearly six kilometers from Masca, sharing a blurred webcam image showing the silhouette of a person walking hours after he was last seen.
Last week, the search operation briefly shifted to the Los Cristianos area, where the young man was staying with two friends, based on a tip that ultimately proved to be false.
Since then, search efforts involving helicopters, drones, specialised mountain rescue teams, and canine units have been concentrated on the Masca gorge.
Jay Slater had travelled to Tenerife with friends to attend a concert when he met two individuals who he apparently went to the Masca area with.
According to a friend, he called her last Monday to say he was lost, thirsty, and with only 1% battery remaining on his phone.
The disappearance was reported the same day, and search operations have been ongoing since then with no success.
His family has travelled to the island to closely monitor the search efforts and assist in any way possible. Additionally, several friends have also flown to Tenerife.
The SOS Missing Association has classified this case as highly vulnerable.
