The search for Jay Slater has increased as the unexpected source flies to Tenerife

The family of missing Jay Slater are being helped by a mayor who has flown to Tenerife to help with the search.

Shane Yerrell is the mayor of Waltham Abbey in Essex and has previously climbed Kilimanjaro and Mount Olympus. He flew more than 2,000 miles to Tenerife and spent two days searching the area where 19-year-old Jay was last seen.

Mr Yerrell joined Jay’s devastated father Warren, 58, older brother Zak, 24, and other family and friends at the weekend. He now continues to assist the family as he plans another trip to the island to join the search.

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Mr Yerrell said: “I just live on hope. It’s awful, they have no answers. I don’t know if Jay is alive or dead.”

When asked if Jay’s parents still held out hope that he was alive, Mr Yerrell told the Mirror: “Of course. I would be exactly the same.” The 40-year-old flew to the island after contacting Jay’s family and offering help, which they accepted.

He has previously helped a number of struggling families and has raised almost £200,000 to help people in need since 2011. He said: “I said to the family, ‘I’ve climbed a few mountains, I’m not a mountain expert. any means but i did and i would like to come help. I spent all day on Saturday climbing the mountain and then the same thing on Monday on a different route.

He continued: “They are doing everything to find him. I don’t just go out for an hour, I’m out all day from 9.30am to 6pm. I’ve covered miles, but there’s still a lot of ground to go.

“I feel for everyone, especially his dad. I’m a parent and my kid is only a few years younger than Jay. The whole thing is heartbreaking, that he has no answers. I just don’t know.”

Describing the conditions Jay’s family and friends are forced to endure in their search for him, Shane said: “It’s not easy at all. I fought on the mountain and so did his family, but they didn’t mind because their priority is to empower themselves. find jay

“The altitude and the heat make it very difficult and the mountain is massive. You go over an edge and then there’s a little bit more. It’s incredible out there. It would take weeks or months to cover.”

Mr Yerrell is now continuing to support the family from afar after landing back in the UK in the early hours of Tuesday morning. He spoke as Spanish police issued a statement insisting they were still following several lines of inquiry in their investigation into Jay’s disappearance, three weeks after he went missing on June 17.

He added: “The police have been good but I think it would be helpful for the family to have a police family liaison officer because they don’t have that at the moment and I think that would help them. Bring in mountain experts to help, and I know that’s something they’re looking at.”

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