British search team flies out to Palma

PALMA
AN expert British search and rescue team flies out to Palma tomorrow to boost the search for the missing resort representative Jacqueline Tennant who went missing while hiking in Majorca on October 9.

The four to six strong Global Rescue team will be linking up with affiliated rescue teams in Spain to borrow a pack of tracker dogs for their five-day search of the Escorca area of the Sierra Tramuntana mountains.

According to the trace of the last call 42-year-old Tennant received on her mobile, she was walking in the mountainous area of Escorca on the day she went missing.

Unfortunately, because weather conditions were very wet and windy on October 9, the mobile phone company is unable to narrow down the signal and provide Inca Guardia Civil and mountain rescue teams with a more accurate location.

All last week, Jacqueline's sister Monique, who has been leading the search for the past six weeks, combed the areas of Sa Calobra and the hills running between Pollensa and the Port. But no trace of the RAF women's auxiliary was found. “I am not giving up hope, I know time is passing us by now but while there are still possibilities, there is still hope,” Monique said yesterday. “We all had a shock last week when the body of a woman was found washed up on the beach in Majorca were quickly assured it was not that of my sister,” she added. “So, the search goes on.” The Guardia Civil have been continuing with their search and Microsoft is poised to give police the all clear to check Jacqueline's emails. All they need is a letter from the police before that check can be done because what remains unclear is whether Jacqueline left the mountain she had been climbing on the morning of October 9. Mobile phone records can not be checked as she owned a card phone so her e-mail records may provide some vital clues as to what happened nearly seven weeks ago.

Jacqueline had been working for First Choice in the resort of Can Picafort as a swimming teacher. She was fit and military trained. She was well traveled and a skilled hiker. She spent nearly all her days off hiking around Majorca.

The last person to speak to her was her resort boss who called her at 12.49 on October 9. All that Jacqueline said with regards to her location was that she was nearing the summit and the view was “spectacular.” However, as she had not told anyone of her plans for the day, the search has been hampered by the lack of concrete information as to her whereabouts.
What is known is that she only used public transport and, according to maps found in her apartment, Escorca was one of the areas she had yet to visit. It was also understood that she was seen having breakfast at 9am.

Members of her family have been continuously in Majorca heading the search and keeping the pressure on the authorities although Monique has nothing but praise for the Guardia Civil search teams and the Civil protection who, with teams of volunteers, have not given up the search.

Next week Monique will also be joined by a British tv crew which is going to follow events and cover the search while colleagues in the RAF auxiliary are also on stand by to fly out to Majorca to help once the search area is narrowed down.