Jay Slater missing: Police search caves for teen as mother gives GoFundMe update

Reports from last year tell of how Ryan Cooney, who was aged 28 at the time, was last seen leaving his hotel Paraiso del Sol apartments in Playa de las Americas on 9 November 2023.

Lined with garish neon signs, booming music and ridiculously cheap drink deals, Veronica’s Strip in Tenerife could be seen as a British teenager’s heaven or a nightmare.

Young Britons appear to be the main clientele along the popular street in Playa de Las Americas, with hundreds gathering this week to celebrate the end of their A-Level results.

Holly Evans reports from Tenerife:

The 19-year-old has not been heard from since last Monday morning, when he contacted a friend shortly after 8am to say he was lost in the Rural de Teno park and had only one per cent phone battery.

Former detective Mark Williams-Thomas has now flown over from the UK after offering the family his assistance, as Spanish police and sniffer dogs continue to scour the mountainous region in the north of the island.

Holly Evans reports from Tenerife:

A mocked up Facebook post from one of the Slater’s family inner circle was shared with the message: “Jay’s body has been found. Our hearts are with his family in these evil times, we’ve heard from locals it was the job of the Morrocans [sic].”

The mother of Jay’s best friend Rachel Louise Harg, who also set up the GoFundMe page to go towards search efforts, was forced to amplify the cruel prank as she distanced herself from it, insisting the official update group: “This isn’t me.”

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, 26 June, Mark Williams-Thomas said the 19-year-old’s family members have been putting up pictures and posters around the island and are responding to as many enquiries as they can.

“They still live with the hope that Jay will return and that he is not safe but still alive,” Mr Williams-Thomas said.

It came as the search for Mr Slater entered its second week.

The teenager, from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, disappeared following an attempt to walk back to his accommodation after missing a bus and was last heard from on Monday last week.

Our reporter Holly Evans is at the scene in Tenerife:

On Thursday, the search was concentrated on a ravine further along the national park, with caves near Los Carrizales being searched as part of the investigation.

Only four police cars and a team of officers have been visible so far, at a location that is about an hour and a half walk from the AirBnb where he stayed with two men.

This is the valley they were searching in on Thursday:

A fundraiser launched to help find Jay Slater has now surpassed £40,000 as the search for the missing teenager enters its twelfth day.

Over 3,500 people have donated to the GoFundMe page since it was set up over a week ago by the 19-year-old’s friend.

On Thursday, Mr Slater’s mother announced that she is withdrawing some of the money raised to put towards the search efforts.

Debbie Duncan, 55, vowed they will not lose hope and will return home with him.

Family and friends are attempting to keep Mr O’Sullivan’s story in the public eye by launching their own website, fundraising, and changing their Facebook profile pictures to his missing poster.

Reports from last year tell of how Ryan Cooney, who was aged 28 at the time, was last seen leaving his hotel Paraiso del Sol apartments in Playa de las Americas on 9 November 2023.

The Independent’s Holly Evans reports from Tenerife:

Paul Arnott, 29, who runs the TikTok account Down the Rapids is among those who has been searching for Jay Slater after he disappeared last Monday. Since being in Tenerife, he has posted 66 videos with each racking up hundreds of thousands of views.

His efforts have attracted the interest of the teenager’s family, who have reportedly contacted him and arranged a meeting on Thursday.

“I’m meeting the family today,” he told the Telegraph. “I’ve been speaking with Brad’s mum, Rachel. They wanted to bring me food but I said no.

“They said they wanted to meet me. They said they’re really proud of what I’m doing.”