Jay Slater missing - latest: Teenager could still be alive ‘drinking rainwater’, investigator says

A private detective has urged Jay Slater’s family “not to give up” as he suggests he may have survived up until now by “drinking rainwater” and “eating plants”.

The Spanish police called off the search for the missing 19-year-old on Sunday after a gruelling 13-day search.

However private investigator and army reservist Juan García, 53, criticised the authorities for halting the search too early.

He told The Times : “[Slater] could be alive somewhere — someone can drink from rainwater and eat plants. The family should not give up hope.”

He added that he had spoken to Jay’s family - who are still in Tenerife desperately trying to find the apprentice bricklayeer - to directly to offer his advice.

The 19-year-old had attended the NRG music festival on the Canary Island on Sunday June 16 , before he went back to an AirBnb around an hours drive from the festival with two men he had met.

He left the property early on Monday morning and called his friend at 8.50am to say that he was lost in the Rural de Teno park with no water and only had one per cent battery on his phone