Jay Slater's mum has given an update on the ongoing search efforts for her son via the GoFundMe page she created to "bring him home".
Earlier this week, Jay's family expressed that they're still "holding on to hope" of finding him and initiated a new search for the missing 19 year old. Jay's dad and brother joined forces with 10 volunteers to comb through the perilous mountains of Tenerife, where Jay is believed to have disappeared.
Despite the scorching 25C heat, the group searched the Valley of Barranco de Juan Lopez, close to the village of Masca where the teen was last seen.
Last night, Jay's mum Debbie posted an update on the fundraising page that was established shortly after his disappearance. In her post, she expressed gratitude for all the help and support they've received.
She also mentioned a significant obstacle that could impede the search effort, reports the Mirror.
Debbie penned: "We have been overwhelmed by the kindness and support we have received and would like to thank the local hiking group for all of their help planning the routes to find our Jay. We have been contacted by a wonderful group of locals who have volunteered to continue the search. While they don't wish to accept financial help for their search, we will be supporting them with supplies and are so grateful for their willingness to help."
Debbie has shared that she's been approached by seasoned search and rescue teams ready to lend a hand. However, these skilled experts might face a roadblock as the green light must come from Spanish officials.
Debbie hasn't disclosed how the Spanish authorities are reacting to these offers.
She added: "We also continue to be contacted by experienced groups offering to support our search. We are busy talking to them about what they can do to assist. But in order for us to employ their help, they need to have permission from the Spanish authorities.
"We will be sure to keep you all updated on our progress and are so grateful for your continued support to bring our boy home. Please keep sharing and supporting our fundraiser however you can."
Glen Duncan, 41, uncle to the missing teen and brother to Jay's mother Debbie, has joined the tireless search for the young lad, who has now been missing for nearly three weeks. Describing the situation as "just torture" he spends each day in agonising wait for any news.
He shared his experience, saying: "We've just been out with some Spanish volunteers. They've been through it by foot and the dogs, there's obviously been areas searched by helicopter and drones. For me, he's not up here. That's what I get the impression of."
He expressed frustration about the lack of communication from local authorities, saying: "Who knows what the police are doing out here, who knows? They're not really in touch, it's all a bit sketchy. They don't give anything away. I was close to Jay. He was just a typical, great young lad with a massive circle of friends who loved the good time. He was looking forward to coming here. First lads holiday, we've all been there, haven't we? ".
The uncle is still holding onto hope for his nephew's safe return: "We're still holding onto hope - we have to because we don't know. He's not been found so you've got to cling on. I'm sure Madeleine McCann's parents still cling to that hope, that she's somewhere on the other side of the world 20 years later. She's never been found and there's no proof of whatever has happened to her. It's so treacherous down there. Look at the state of me. I'm not a climber, I'm not a hiker."
He described the difficulty of the search, noting: "It's so easy to get lost down there. There was a group of us and you can't see anybody. It got to a point where I wasn't even looking for my nephew, I was just trying to find my own way out to safety. If he has wandered off I just can't see how he would wander all the way down there. When you're lost you stick to a path. I don't know if he was afraid of someone or something."
