Missing Jay's family 'just living on hope'

Mayor joins search as uncle insists they will not give up

- PATRICK HILL and PHIL CARDY

A MOUNTAINEERING mayor believes the family of Jay Slater will not stop looking for their lost son until they have news.

Search volunteer Shane Yerrell joined the teenager's dad Warren, 58, and brother Zak, 24, to scour the rural area in Tenerife where Jay, 19, was last seen.

He said: "They're just living on hope.

"It's awful they've got no answers. They don't know whether Jay is alive or dead."

Asked if Jay's parents are holding out hope he is alive, he said: "Of course. I'd be the same. Until you know for sure."

Jay's uncle, Glen Duncan, echoed that determination, saying: "We're going to have to be doing something because otherwise you're just sitting in the apartment staring at the same four walls."