Callum Fahim, a popular TikTok creator, has cut short his involvement in the search for missing teenager Jay Slater in Tenerife, citing concerns for his safety. Fahim had travelled to the island to assist in the efforts to locate the 19-year-old apprentice bricklayer from Lancashire. However, he ultimately decided to return to London after two weeks, stating that he no longer felt secure continuing the search.
Callum Fahim, an enthusiastic hiker, revealed that he received an ominous message on social media that left him unsettled. The message, seemingly sent by someone monitoring his livestreams, warned him that his flight to the island had been tracked and urged him to exercise extreme caution, as some individuals might be waiting for him at the airport.
The message ominously stated, “People are going to find you… He would love to get hold of you,” prompting Fahim to take the threat seriously and reassess his safety.
Fahim recounted his harrowing experience to The Independent, describing how the situation escalated to a terrifying level. Despite feeling vulnerable and threatened, he felt a strong responsibility to continue the search, driven by his determination to locate Jay Slater. He confessed, “I was torn between my own safety concerns and my commitment to the search, but I couldn’t bring myself to give up until we found him.”
Fahim expressed his deep empathy for Jay Slater’s mother, saying, “Witnessing her anguish has only strengthened my desire to see the search efforts succeed.” However, he revealed that a toxic combination of online threats, harassment, and the presence of organized criminal gangs, coupled with dwindling resources, forced him to prioritize his safety and return home.
Despite the challenges, Fahim emphasized his genuine concern for the family: “I want to make it clear that I’m not heartless; I care deeply about their plight. Unfortunately, I’ve been subjected to vile messages, including death threats and violent intimidation. People have threatened to harm me physically, which has made it impossible for me to continue the search without compromising my own well-being.”
Fahim revealed that the relentless online harassment has taken a toll on his physical and mental health, stating, “I’ve filed reports with the authorities, but the perpetrators are using fake Facebook accounts, making it difficult to trace them.
The constant threats and abuse are causing me significant distress and affecting my well-being to the point where I’m losing my voice.” During his time in Tenerife, Fahim had been instrumental in coordinating searches in unexplored areas of the mountainous region around Masca, where Jay Slater went missing three weeks prior.
Although the Spanish authorities had officially called off the land search, Fahim and his team persevered, venturing into challenging terrain, including remote outbuildings, abandoned shelters, and rugged ravines. With meager provisions like Doritos and Appletisers, they pressed on, driven by their determination. Upon concluding the search, Fahim reflected, “I don’t feel disheartened by the outcome. I went to Tenerife with the best of intentions, and although I wasn’t able to bring Jay back to his mother, I hope that our efforts were sufficient and brought some solace to the family.”
Fahim elaborated, “Despite not achieving our goal, I’m proud to have contributed to the efforts to bring Jay home. I never professed to be a search and rescue expert; my skills lie in mapping, resource allocation, and team organization.”
He lamented, “Unfortunately, my kindness and willingness to help have been misinterpreted as vulnerability by some individuals, who seem to derive pleasure from harassing me. It’s truly disconcerting to see people revel in my distress.”
Fahim emphasized, “Given my threats, my safety must take precedence. I’ve shared my concerns with my team, and they are responsible for deciding how to proceed.
” Meanwhile, a video obtained by The Independent shows a man at a London airport approaching arriving passengers and inquiring about Fahim’s whereabouts, visibly agitated. Debbie Duncan, Jay Slater’s mother, has also faced online harassment, with trolls questioning the use of funds raised on GoFundMe for the search efforts.
In a Facebook post, she wrote, “My son Jay is still missing, and this is no vacation. We’re an ordinary family from Lancashire going through a nightmare. I have documentation proving the legitimate use of funds, but I shouldn’t have to justify our search efforts.”
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