Ex-cop says it’s “definitely possible” missing teenager Jay Slater is still alive

It’s been more than two and a half weeks since 19-year-old Jay Slater went missing, but his loved ones remain hopeful that he will be found safely. While hope has faded for some, a former police officer believes it is “definitely possible” the teenager is still alive in the hilly terrain of Tenerife.

Jay, from Lancashire, had last been seen in Tenerife with friends for the New Rave Generation music festival, before following two men back to an Airbnb in the Masca mountains. On the morning of Monday, June 17, Jay’s friends last had contact with him and he has not been seen or heard from since, the Mirror reports.

It is believed that Jay was supposed to walk from the Airbnb to where his friends were – a journey of more than 11 hours, but he did not make it. The intensive search for the 19-year-old has been called off by police, but one official believes there is hope for Jay out there.

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Charlie Hedges, an expert on missing persons cases, says there is still hope. He said if Jay managed to survive on rainwater and plants, there was still a chance he could be alive, despite growing concerns for his welfare.

Mr Hedges is not alone in coming up with this theory. In separate interviews with The Times and The Sun, army reservist Juan Garcia called on police to resume the search. He said: “Two weeks is too soon to end the search. (Slater) could be alive somewhere – someone can be drinking rainwater and eating plants. The family should not give up hope.”

Former detective Mr Hedges also believed there was a good chance Jay was alive. He said: “It is certainly possible. I think it’s important to let the inquiry keep all lines of inquiry open until they are proven to be unviable. That’s a long time to survive without food. It depends on how much rain there is, if there is enough water.”

Independent searches for Jay are now underway with the teenager’s family using money donated to them from a GoFundMe campaign to help fund these efforts. Among those taking part is professional adventurer and social media influencer Paul Arnott.

Jay’s mum Debbie Duncan said: “We will continue to use some of the funds to support the volunteers who are working hard in the mountains to find Jay. We are currently taking care of Paul Arnett (sic), preparing a package with whatever gear and essentials he has. needs and going up to give him a drop.”

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