Jay Slater's mum releases statement as body found in Tenerife is confirmed to be British teen
Jay Slater's mum has issued a heartbreaking statement after a body was found in search for the missing teenager and identified as the Oswaldtwistle teen.
The 19-year-old apprentice bricklayer, from Lancashire, has been missing in Tenerife since the morning of 17 June after staying out with a group of people he met at the New Rave Generation festival.
He lost contact with his friends on the night out and decided to stay in an Airbnb called Casa Abuela Tina with two men.
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One of the men he stayed with was called Ayub Qassim and he said that Jay left the property on foot in the morning after 'refusing a lift'.
On low battery, he called his friend Lucy to tell her he was lost. At 9.04am he was reported missing.
In an update on 15 July, the Civil Guard said they had found human remains.
“After 29 constant days of searching the lifeless body of a young man has been found in the Masca area," a spokesperson said, noting that they are 'pending full identification'.
A spokesperson for Lancashire Police added: "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."
Further study of the body found that it had Jay's fingerprints and the injuries sustained were consistent with a fall.
Now his mum, Debbie Duncan, has said that this tragic development is the 'worst news.
In a statement released via LBT Global she said: "I just can’t believe it - we’re here with the embassy staff waiting for an update and now it’s come - the worst news.
"I just can’t believe this could happen to my beautiful boy. Our hearts are broken."
The British overseas missing persons charity LBT Global had previously said: "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
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.
Tuesday 16 July
The body found in Tenerife is confirmed to be that of Jay Slater, with a Spanish court saying his injuries were consistent with a fall in a rocky area.
His clothes and possessions were found near the body.
Topics: Jay Slater, UK News
Anish Vij