Jay Slater’s father sends emotional message to online trolls as he visits research site

The search on foot ended today, the head of the Civil Guard’s mountain rescue operations said, after helicopters spent hours flying over the colossal ravines that are the epicentre of the search for missing Jay Slater.

Warren Slater, 58, and his son Zak, 24, were seen today alongside emergency services and volunteers at a remote spot on the mountain outside the village of Masca where Jay’s mobile phone last rang.

Two police helicopters spent more than three hours flying over the main search areas, where emergency teams, rescuers and volunteers are concentrated. Another search operation began today, after the Civil Guard called on the forces to redouble their efforts in the search for the missing 19-year-old.

The Civil Guard has called up all emergency responders, including rescuers and firefighters, to help with today’s (June 29) search. And as the search enters its 13th day, Spanish police have urged any volunteers with mountain experience to come forward and help.

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Just half a dozen volunteers took part in the effort this morning, with around 30 members of the official emergency services setting out in perilous conditions to search for the 19-year-old from Lancashire. The searchers were among thick, spiky cacti and dense vegetation.

But the Civil Guard was confident at its first press conference on the search, as rescuers and volunteers gathered for a briefing ahead of the planned search today. Cipriano Martin, head of the Civil Guard’s mountain rescue team, said the two Britons who were with Jay Slater in a rural Airbnb rental the night before he disappeared have “no connection” with the police investigation.

Cipriano Martin, head of the Civil Guard’s Greim mountain rescue unit, said: “They have already spoken to the men and it has nothing to do with the case.”

Asked about Jay’s family’s involvement in today’s search, he said: “They’ve been involved all week because we’ve seen them and they’ve seen us in a number of places. They’ve been actively involved.”

Later in the afternoon, the police chief was reluctant to provide more updates on the search progress. Martin was reluctant to share how the search is progressing today, saying: “We’ll see if there’s any further news as we go through the afternoon or evening.”

Speaking on the search site this afternoon, a visibly emotional Warren expressed his frustration at online trolls interfering in the search for his youngest child. “It’s a bit disappointing that there’s no British people apart from Paul (Arnott), but I suppose to them he’s just a young British guy who came here and got drunk,” Warren said.

“I’m grateful to those who came here because you can see how dangerous it is and what bothers me is the trolls who pick on us because we’re not looking. This is not the local park, these are big mountains, the terrain is dangerous, put yourself in our shoes. Would you go in these conditions?”

“It’s tough, it’s difficult, we leave that to the professionals and I’m grateful to those who came today and I want to thank them for what they do.”

Warren added: “We still can’t believe it. It’s been really hard for us and I want people to think about us as parents and what we’re going through. All these trolls that are picking on us, they don’t know what we’re going through, why don’t they come here and see for themselves how dangerous it is.”

“I came here myself now because I wanted to have a look around with Zak and thank those who are here and have given their time. I didn’t think it would last this long, I dropped his mum and brother off at the airport and thought they would be back in a few days. I just thought he had gone out for a drink and ended up at a girl’s house like we all did when we were younger, he’s our youngest, I just want him home.”