Friends of missing 19-year-old Jay Slater believe his Instagram account is being used by a mystery person – as the search for the British teenager continues.
The apprentice bricklayer, from Oswaldtwistle in Lancashire, vanished on Tenerife and was last heard from by his friend Lucy Law on Monday morning.
He is believed to have tried walking back to his accommodation after missing a bus.
His family and friends have been providing updates on a Facebook group dedicated to helping to locate him, which now has more than 480k members.
In a message on Friday afternoon, a friend said: “Jay’s mums asked I post this.. for everyone asking who has logged into his instagram account it’s not him or her somebody else has logged into it.”
Jay had attended the island’s NRG music festival with two friends before his disappearance.
Helicopters, rescue dogs and drones have been deployed in an effort to find him.
Ms Law, who attended the music festival with Jay, said he called her at about 8.30am on Monday and told her he was “lost in the mountains, he wasn’t aware of his surroundings, he desperately needed a drink and his phone was on 1%”.
Jay’s mum Debbie Duncan said searching for her son was “an absolute living nightmare” after flying out to the island on Tuesday.
Speaking to ITV news, she said: “He’s the life and soul, he’s a beautiful boy.”
Spanish Police have rejected an offer of support from Lancashire Police.
The county force said it had made “an offer of support to the Guardia Civil to see if they need any additional resources” in their efforts.
In a statement, a spokesperson said: “First and foremost, our thoughts are with Jay’s family at this time.
“They must be going through the most distressing ordeal not knowing what has happened to their loved one.
“Whilst this case falls outside the jurisdiction of UK policing, we have made an offer of support to the Guardia Civil to see if they need any additional resources.
“They have confirmed that at this time they are satisfied that they have the resources they need, but that offer remains open and they will contact us should that position change.”