![Conspiracy theories hampering search for missing Jay Slater'](https://cdn.magzter.com/1588175106/1719366194/articles/UDLZrdSPD1719369633366/CONSPIRACY-THEORIES-HAMPERING-SEARCH-FOR-MISSING-JAY-SLATER.jpg)
Staff and volunteers from the local police, fire brigade and civil defence force have been using dogs, drones and helicopters to hunt for 19-yearold from Lancashire.
But more than 2,000 miles away in Britain, a group of online sleuths are conducting their own operations, scouring Google maps of the area where he disappeared in the Rural de Teno national park and posting baseless conspiracy theories, and, in some cases, even cruel deliberate hoaxes about his disappearance.
Slater's family and friends have said the interest the case has generated online is compounding their distress in what is already the one of the most difficult situations a parent could imagine. And they fear the online "noise" around the case could even hamper the investigation.
Slater's last known contact with those close to him was when he phoned a friend called Lucy who had been at the same music festival but left before him. He told her that his phone battery was on 1%, that he was thirsty, lost and that he had cut his leg on a cactus.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
![Alcaraz finds 'solutions' to fight back and overpower Paul](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21665/1760930/P0fjhwIg61720589309970/ALCARAZ-FINDS-SOLUTIONS-TO-FIGHT-BACK-AND-OVERPOWER-PAUL.jpg)
Alcaraz finds 'solutions' to fight back and overpower Paul
Ever since he emerged on the Tour as a precocious teenager, Carlos Alcaraz has been compared to Rafael Nadal; for his tenacity, shot-making and attitude.
![Medvedev soothes Melbourne pain as he sinks ailing Sinner](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21665/1760930/6p1TTdmID1720589191932/MEDVEDEV-SOOTHES-MELBOURNE-PAIN-AS-HE-SINKS-AILING-SINNER.jpg)
Medvedev soothes Melbourne pain as he sinks ailing Sinner
Daniil Medvedev departed Melbourne in January having experienced one of the most excruciating defeats he will ever endure.
![Israel bombards northern Gaza as Hamas says attacks putting ceasefire talks at risk](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21665/1760930/3oyLBB8lm1720588973943/ISRAEL-BOMBARDS-NORTHERN-GAZA-AS-HAMAS-SAYS-ATTACKS-PUTTING-CEASEFIRE-TALKS-AT-RISK.jpg)
Israel bombards northern Gaza as Hamas says attacks putting ceasefire talks at risk
Northern and central Gaza were hit by another day of heavy Israeli airstrikes yesterday, attacks Hamas said threatened to derail new international efforts to broker a ceasefire and hostage release deal.
![Hospital strike Zelenskiy says world can stop 'Russian terror'](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21665/1760930/m4C5RjudQ1720588814680/HOSPITAL-STRIKE-ZELENSKIY-SAYS-WORLD-CAN-STOP-RUSSIAN-TERROR.jpg)
Hospital strike Zelenskiy says world can stop 'Russian terror'
Rescuers have continued to dig through the rubble of a children's hospital in Kyiv after a wave of devastating Russian missile strikes across the country on Monday that killed 38 people, including four children.
![Historic theatre saved after campaign led by TV actor](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21665/1760930/B9aCss9F31720588714490/HISTORIC-THEATRE-SAVED-AFTER-CAMPAIGN-LED-BY-TV-ACTOR.jpg)
Historic theatre saved after campaign led by TV actor
Oldham's historic Coliseum theatre has been saved from closure, after a successful campaign led by the actor Julie Hesmondhalgh.
![Hit Netflix drama looks to supercharge awareness of sickle cell disease in UK](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21665/1760930/EZ5GoIi5l1720588585523/HIT-NETFLIX-DRAMA-LOOKS-TO-SUPERCHARGE-AWARENESS-OF-SICKLE-CELL-DISEASE-IN-UK.jpg)
Hit Netflix drama looks to supercharge awareness of sickle cell disease in UK
The creator of a hit Netflix show about a group of black south Londoners with superpowers triggered by sickle cell disease says he hopes its success can kickstart a discussion about the condition and remove stigmas associated with it.
![Man jailed after killing baby and woman in 141mph drunken crash](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21665/1760930/npbo-MXuJ1720588500364/MAN-JAILED-AFTER-KILLING-BABY-AND-WOMAN-IN-141MPH-DRUNKEN-CRASH.jpg)
Man jailed after killing baby and woman in 141mph drunken crash
A man who was almost three times the drink-driving limit when he crashed into a car, killing a baby and his aunt, has been jailed for more than 17 years.
![Rugby Super League hopes to pop its 'northern bubble' with Vegas fixture](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21665/1760930/50TBceUiX1720588401165/RUGBY-SUPER-LEAGUE-HOPES-TO-POP-ITS-NORTHERN-BUBBLE-WITH-VEGAS-FIXTURE.jpg)
Rugby Super League hopes to pop its 'northern bubble' with Vegas fixture
Rugby's Super League was yesterday set for the \"biggest moment in its history\" after it was confirmed that two of its biggest clubs, Warrington Wolves and Wigan Warriors, will take a league fixture to Las Vegas.
![Reform UK MP accused of 'witch-hunt' after issuing warning over teachers](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21665/1760930/CkdZ6Bygz1720588309078/REFORM-UK-MP-ACCUSED-OF-WITCHHUNT-AFTER-ISSUING-WARNING-OVER-TEACHERS.jpg)
Reform UK MP accused of 'witch-hunt' after issuing warning over teachers
A Reform UK MP has been accused of mounting a \"witch-hunt\" after saying that he had a list of schools where teachers were allegedly \"pushing\" critical views about the hard-right party to pupils.
![Ex-MP Ashworth named as new head of influential Labour Together thinktank](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21665/1760930/sG1nc8PHE1720588251847/EXMP-ASHWORTH-NAMED-AS-NEW-HEAD-OF-INFLUENTIAL-LABOUR-TOGETHER-THINKTANK.jpg)
Ex-MP Ashworth named as new head of influential Labour Together thinktank
Jonathan Ashworth will become chief executive of the highly influential Starmerite thinktank Labour Together after losing his seat, the Guardian has learned.