The search for Jay Slater may have gone “super quiet” – but there are specific reasons for that, a TikToker who has flown to Tenerife to help look for the missing British teenager has claimed.
Paul Arnott insists “progress is being made” – while neighbours living near the Airbnb where Jay, from Oswaldtwistle in Lancashire, was last seen have revealed one key detail offers a glimmer of hope that he may still be alive.
Mr Arnott, who uses the TikTok handle ‘downtherapids’, returned to the rural Parc de Teno, a remote area of specialist scientific interest in the north-west of the holiday aisle, yesterday morning.
It is 19-year-old Jay’s last known location, with him having headed north in the park on June 17 from the Airbnb in the town of Masca, where he was invited by two men after a rave in tourist hotspot Playa de las Americas
In a video shared at 5.30am today, Mr Arnott told followers: “I’m really, really tired.”
“But apart from that guys, I feel like it’s going to be really, really productive.”
He continued: “Now I know things on social media from everyone involved in the search has been super, super quiet, and just news in general.
“But what I do want to say guys, is progress is being made, and I’m not just saying that.”
Explaining the lack of news, Mr Arnott added: “There’s a lot of things that we’re keeping off social media, stuff that just does not need to be in the public eye unless you’re out here searching… it really just is not important.
“But I do want to let everybody know that progress is being made, 100 per cent, so please don’t think anything different guys.”
He also stressed that “more people are getting involved now” in the search for Jay, describing the development as “absolutely fantastic” to see.
Spain’s Guardia Civil pulled the plug on the official search at the end of last month but insisted in an update issued last week that several lines of inquiry are being pursued.
Nevertheless, Mr Arnott did sound a note of caution about the current search area, suggesting it might be time to move on.
He said: “Right now I’m still focusing on that first section, but I do feel that soon guys – especially after speaking with the family and other things – it’s going to be time to perhaps move on to another section possibly guys. We’ll see what happens.”
Jay’s dad, Warren Slater, told the Mirror: “We are still out looking. What more can we possibly do?
“I’ve said before, I need an army to help me. People don’t understand the vastness of it. I’d love to be able to fly a drone and sit here all day scouring the whole area.”
Jay’s mum Debbie yesterday released a statement via the LBT Global charity in which she condemned conspiracy theorists speculating about her son’s whereabouts.
She said: “We are aware of the awful comments and conspiracy theories that are filling social media.
“These theories are hindering the people trying to help us in their investigations here in Tenerife and are vile to see as a family.”