Lancashire Police issues statement following discovery of body in search for Jay Slater
Lancashire Police has shared a statement following the discovery of a body in the search for missing teenager Jay Slater.
The 19-year-old from Lancashire has been missing for 29 days while on holiday in Tenerife.
On 16 June, Jay attended the New Rave Generation festival where he ended up losing contact with his friends. He then decided to stay out with a group of people he had just met.
In the early hours of Monday (17 June), we learnt that Jay had stayed in an Airbnb called Casa Abuela Tina with the two men, which included Ayub Qassim, who said that the teenager had left the property on foot in the morning after 'refusing a lift'.
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On the Monday morning, he called his friend Lucy to tell her he was lost and that his phone was on 1 percent.
Amid the ongoing search, the Civil Guard said in an update today (15 July) that they had found human remains.
The Lancashire Police have also shared a statement, reading: "We have today (Monday, July 15) been notified by the Guardia Civil that they have found the body of a man and that the indications are that this is Jay Slater.
"While at this stage no formal identification has been carried out our thoughts are very much with Jay’s family at this time, and we continue to offer them our support."
In an earlier update, a spokesperson for the Civil Guard said: “After 29 constant days of searching the lifeless body of a young man has been found in the Masca area.
“The discovery has been possible thanks to the tireless and discreet search carried out by the Civil Guard over these 29 days.
“Everything is pointing to the body being that of the young British man who disappeared on June 17, pending full identification. Initial inquiries are pointing to him having suffered an accident/fall in the area where he was found.”
Meanwhile, British overseas missing persons charity LBT Global added: "LBT Global is saddened to announce that a body found in Tenerife does look to be that of Jay Slater.
"It is understood the body was found close to the site of his mobile phone’s last location. Although formal identification is yet to be carried out, the body was found with Mr Slater’s possessions and clothes.
"A post mortem and forensic enquiries will follow. LBT Global are supporting the family at this distressing time and ask for everyone to afford them space and privacy to come to terms with the news."
Jay Slater's disappearance: timeline of key moments
Sunday 16 June
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Jay attends the New Rave Generation music festival with friends at Papagayo nightclub in the tourist resort of Playa de las Americas in the south of the island.
Monday 17 June
In the early hours of Monday, Jay goes to stay in an apartment in the north of the island with people he had met over the course of the night.
7.30am
Jay posts a picture on Snapchat from the doorway of the property he stayed at overnight, tagged as being in Rural de Teno park.
8.30am
He calls his friend, Lucy Law, telling her he had attempted to walk back to his accommodation after missing his bus – a journey that would take more than ten hours.
He said he had 'cut his leg' on a cactus and had 'no idea where he was'.
He also said his phone was on one percent battery. His last known location is Rural de Teno park.
9.04am
He is reported missing.
Tuesday 18 June
After friends spend the previous day searching to no avail, local police and mountain rescue teams scour Rural de Teno park for Jay.
His family fly out to Tenerife to join the search.
Wednesday 19 June
The search is temporarily moved to the Los Cristianos area in the south of the island due to a potential lead, but this amounts to nothing and the search returns north.
Jay’s mum Debbie Duncan says she fears her son had 'been taken against his will'.
Sunday 23 June
TV detective Mark Williams-Thomas offers his team's expertise in the search for Jay. He writes on X: "If [Jay's family] give me total access and with feet on the ground I will very quickly be able to say if his disappearance is him alone or if it has third party involvement."
Sunday 30 June
The Tenerife Civil Guard announce they are ending the search for Jay after 13 days, but the investigation remains open and they will follow up any new leads. Jay's family vow to continue the search themselves.
Monday 15 July
Police announce that human remains of a 'young man' have been found. Formal identification has not yet taken place.
Topics: Jay Slater
Anish Vij