Missing Jay Slater's family issue heartfelt statement on Tenerife search team

Jay Slater's family have issued a new update to those following the case, sharing a heartfelt message on the official social media page about the search for the 19-year-old from Lancashire, who has now been missing for almost three weeks.

Jay's mother, Debbie Duncan, has shared her gratitude to a local hiking group for their relentless efforts in searching for her missing son. A new post on an official Facebook page for the search for Jay stated: "Debbie and family would like to thank the local hiking group who have worked tirelessly planning routes and searching for Jay they are extremely overwhelmed with the kindness of them all."

"Thank you," added the family as they continue to reckon with the disappearance of their youngest son.

READ MORE: Follow our live blog HERE on the search for Jay

Jay, from Oswaldtwistle in Lancashire, disappeared on the Spanish island on June 17. He was last seen leaving the Airbnb at around 8am that morning.

The teenager, who was on holiday with his pals Lucy Law, 18, and Brad Hargreaves, 19, had previously been partying at the Papagayo nightclub in Playa de las Americas, before leaving the event to go back to the rented property. His last known location was the Rural de Teno Park in the north of the Canary Island – which was about an 11-hour walk back to his accommodation.

At around 8.30am on the morning of his disappearance, Jay called Lucy to say he was in the middle of nowhere, trying to get home with no water and 1 per cent on his phone battery. That was the last time anyone heard from him.

After almost two weeks of hunting for the teenager in vast and mountainous terrain, police called off the search on the ground for him. On June 30, they said officers would continue to act on any