An expert team from the cynological department of the Civil Guard has been deployed from Madrid to Tenerife to assist in the search for the 19-year-old British tourist, Jay Slater, who went missing eight days ago in the Teno Rural Park, located in the northwest of the island.
According to sources from the military institute as consulted by Europa Press, these officers are experts in searching for individuals in “vast land areas” with the assistance of specially trained dogs for expansive terrains.
The search operation, now in its eighth consecutive day, commences early in the morning and concludes at dusk, when diminishing daylight hampers tracking activities, with the Civil Guard stating that “all possibilities are being considered.”.
The search involves personnel from the cynological unit and the Special Mountain Intervention Rescue Group (GREIM) with the assistance of Civil Protection volunteers, drones, and a helicopter. The search focus is on the Masca ravine and various steep areas surrounding the town of Buenavista del Norte.
Slater had travelled to Tenerife with two friends for a holiday and to attend a music festival in Arona, situated in the southern part of the island. In the early hours of Sunday the 16th, he met two other individuals and went with them to a house within the Teno Rural Park, inland on the island.
During this time, he contacted a friend and mentioned that he was disoriented, had missed the bus, was very thirsty, and was attempting to make his way back to his apartment on the coast. The call abruptly ended due to his phone having less than 1% battery remaining, as he had informed his friend.
Shortly after, his friends reported him missing. Jay’s family has relocated to Tenerife to assist with the search efforts. An image from a security camera in Santiago del Teide, approximately six kilometers from Masca, captured a man walking on the morning of Monday the 17th, possibly the missing tourist.
The organisation SOS Missing has classified this case as highly critical.
Masca, a renowned and perilous ravine
The Masca village, nestled amidst mountains and ravines, is not only a popular tourist spot but also the starting point of one of the most famous trails on Tenerife, albeit one of the most hazardous. In the past, due to numerous accidents and some fatal falls, the Island Council had opted to temporarily close it, reopening in 2021, but with restricted access: requiring reservations and limited capacity.
The trail leads to a coast where a picturesque sandy beach, nestled amidst the cliffs of Los Gigantes, awaits hikers and was previously only accessible either by retracing the path or by boat. Since its reopening, visitors must return to the village, as departing by sea is not permitted.
The daily capacity limit is set at 25 people, and outside designated hours, the trail is closed for safety considerations.
