The Guardia Civil has issued an update on the search for Jay Slater as the search for the British teenager ends its thirteenth day.
In a press conference, the police said they had “certain clues” as they prepared for what they described as a “massive search” today for the Briton who went missing on June 17.
On Saturday, the authorities had undertaken a massive search operation around the village of Masca where Jay was last seen. However, as night fell, today’s search ended with no sign of the missing tourist.
Following the search, the Chief of the Mountain Rescue team for the Guardia Civil Cipriano Martin issued an update.
In his latest update, Martin explained both the difficulties behind the search and the impact the science of phone coverage has had on it.
He said: “We have searched the Masca area, the Barranco de San Lopez area and the Barranco Retamar, Barranco de las Aneas, Barranco de Carrizales, we have searched the whole area.
“We know to a certain science that he was here because of the coverage of his phone it is undeniable that he was around this point. And that’s where we have difficulties because once you turn off your phone, it can no longer be traced.
“So while he was walking – and we don’t know how long he could have walked for – with his phone switched off, no antenna is going to pick that up.”
Mr Martin added: “And the technology we have – it traces phones, but not people. We have certain clues, and we have to stick to those.”
As the search for Jay continues, his family have issued updates. Earlier this week, Jay’s father Warren Slater, 58, delivered the heartbreaking update that almost no other Britons were involved in the search for his son.
He said: “It’s a bit disappointing that there are no British apart from Paul [Arnott] but I suppose to them he’s just a British lad who’s come out here and got drunk. I’m grateful to those who have come out here because you can see just how dangerous it is and what gets me is the trollers who are having a go at us for not searching.
“It’s not the local park, these are big mountains, and the terrain is dangerous, put yourself in our position. Would you go out in these conditions? It’s tough, it’s hard, we are leaving it to the professionals and I’m grateful for those who have turned out today and I want to thank them for what they are doing.”
