Missing Jay Slater’s best friends have returned to the UK three weeks after the apprentice bricklayer’s mystery disappearance, MailOnline can reveal.
Lucy Mae Law and Brad Hargreaves flew out to the Spanish holiday island with Jay for an eight-day holiday last month, taking in the 72-hour New Rave Generation festival.
The three friends – all 19 – and another teenager, Brandon Hodgson were all last together at Papagayo nightclub in the raucous resort of Playa de las Americas on June 17.
Brad had stayed on in Tenerife with his mum Rachel – although he was not seen taking part in any searches – and was spotted at Tenerife south airport late on Sunday night.
Brad is believed to have returned to his home at Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, with Jay’s uncle Glen Duncan, 41, who on Saturday was seen searching a valley where the missing raver’s mobile last pinged.
It is understood Lucy headed home some time earlier after doing all she could to help in the now four week search.
It is the latest development in the search for the missing teenager which has seen:
Lucy Law (pictured) was one of the last people to hear from Jay and had gone to a festival with him the night before he disappeared
Brad Hargreaves was seen in the world duty free at Tenerife south airport late on Sunday night
Jay Slater disappeared in a remote village in northwest Tenerife on June 17 as he tried to walk back to his hotel in Playa de las Americas after missing a bus
Among those searching for Jay was his mother Debbie, 55, father Warren, 58, and brother Zak, 24, Rachel, 34.
They were joined by a group of expats and local hikers who combed through the valley all day after police called the search off on June 30.
When asked how long the family would stay Glen said he had to ‘get back as his children were at school’ and added of Warren and Debbie: I don’t know how long we’re going to be out here for. How long’s a piece of string?
‘Debbie and Warren won’t be going anywhere.’
Brad was seen in the queue to board a Manchester bound flight from Tenerife and had earlier been seen browsing the cigarette section of the duty free shop.
Brad, who has also been on holiday with Jay spoke about the last time he heard from his pal on the phone.
Describing the last moments he saw him, Brad gave an interview to this morning on June 28 saying that while he was on the phone to Jay, he could hear his ‘feet sliding down the hill’.
Lucy Law broke her silence on Instagram last week with a picture of her with the missing teenager and a crying face and heart emoji
A map showing Jay Slater’s last known movements before he disappeared
Missing Jay posted a final picture at 7.30am on Snapchat from the house of ‘two English lads’ an hour before phoning his friend Lucy
Brad Hargreaves (pictured) is believed to have returned to his home at Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, with Jay’s uncle Glen Duncan
He said: ‘Yeah that’s how I knew he went off the road. You could hear like when you walk on gravel, stones.’
Brad admitted, however, he wasn’t worried at that point as Jay reassured him he was fine – but he did tell his friend to put his location on.
Brad added: ‘We were both, like, laughing about it. He said: ‘look where I am’.’
He said Jay then cut off as he had another call waiting – but promised to phone back.
Jay travelled to the Canary Islands for a musical festival with his friends
Jay (right) pictured alongside his mother Debbie and brother Zak (left) who flew out to Tenerife after his disappearance
Both Brad and his mum Rachel vowed to stay in Tenerife for ‘as long as it takes’ to support Jay’s distraught family but he is believed to have returned home due to his work commitments.
It is understood Lucy headed home some time earlier after doing all she could to help in the now four week search.
Taking to her Instagram for the first time since Jay vanished, Lucy posted a snap of the pair together with a crying face emoji last week.
Lucy was also the one who set up a GoFundMe to raise money for Jay and to help fund the search. It has since reached over £50,000.
Ayub Qassim, 31, is the convicted drug dealer who invited Jay back to his rented Airbnb
The £40-a-night Casa Abuela Tina holiday rental near the remote village of Masca where Jay spent his final hours before going missing
Jay’s father Warren and brother Zak hiking through the mountain track where Jay’s phone was last located
