The construction company which employs missing teenager Jay Slater has urged people to stop sending them “cruel” emails as the search for him enters its 11th day.
PH Build Group has shared “one of many” messages it has been sent as conspiracy theories about the 19-year-old’s disappearance are circulated by social media users online.
The construction firm wrote in a Facebook post: “These people are trying to ruin people’s lives and businesses (while) sat behind a screen looking for attention.
“Everyone may have their own theories and feelings but to publicly post them knowing you are going to hurt people is just cruel.
“Jay’s family shouldn’t have to endure this.
“The only thing that should matter right now is getting a 19-year-old son back to his family where he belongs.”
Mr Slater’s mother Debbie Duncan and friends of the teenager have previously been at the centre of online conspiracy theories about his disappearance.
Jay Slater and his mother, Debbie Duncan. Pic: Lucy Law
The apprentice bricklayer had been holidaying with friends in southern Tenerife before travelling to the northwestern mountain village of Masca with two people he met at the NRG music festival on Sunday 16 June.
The teenager, from Oswaldtwistle near Blackburn in Lancashire, told a friend over the phone at 8:30am the following morning that he was walking back to his holiday accommodation after missing a bus – a journey that would take 11 hours on foot.
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He also said he was lost, in need of water, and only had 1% charge on his phone.
Mr Slater’s family have flown out to Tenerife as police and mountain rescuers continue to search for the teenager.
Sniffer dogs have been helping with the search
PH Build’s Group latest comments come after the company shared a Facebook post earlier this week saying the “picture being painted” of Mr Slater is “just not true”.
The company wrote on Monday: “We have decided to remove our last post due to all the negative comments and conspiracy theories.
“Jay has been with us since he left school and is liked by all. He’s a valued member of our team and we stand by him.
“The picture being painted of him is just not true. The fact is he’s a 19-year-old lad missing in a foreign country. He needs to be back home where he belongs. Come on Jay we are all praying for you.”
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Police officers told Sky News on Wednesday that the search for Mr Slater had honed in a specific areas.
They added they were examining the area, a rock face where there is water source, with the help of drones.
They said the land they were focusing on was arid, barren and difficult to get to on foot.
Spanish police have also released new footage of the hunt for the teenager after Mr Slater’s father said the family were being kept in the dark by some officers.
It shows a helicopter searching the mountainous area, with search teams on foot having been joined by sniffer dogs.
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Helicopter searches for Jay Slater
Read more:
‘I know how Jay Slater’s parents must feel’
Specialist dogs brought in to help with search
Slater’s dad says police keeping family in the dark
The last person to see Mr Slater was Masca resident Ofelia Medina Hernandez who spoke to the teenager on Monday 17 June.
Ms Hernandez said she told him a bus was due at 10am as he seemingly hoped to get back to his accommodation.
However, he set off walking – and she said she later drove past him while he was “walking fast”.