Jay Slater’s mother has issued a personal message after receiving support from ‘thousands’ in the wake of the discovery of her son’s body in Tenerife.
Debbie Duncan remains on the Spanish island after the 19-year-old’s body was found on Monday.
Spanish officials believe the teenager’s death was caused by trauma due to a fall in the rocky area near the northern village of Masca.
The apprentice bricklayer was seen living the village on the morning of 16 June as he embarked on a 11-hour walk back to his holiday accommodation.
Since the identification of Jay’s body, Charity LBT Global has been helping the family fill documents as part of the repatriation process, which could take at least a week, chief executive Matthew Searle said.
Floral tributes have also been left by the family close to where Jay’s body was found.
Speaking on Wednesday, Mr Searle told The Independent: “There is a personal message from Debbie to say ‘thank you very much’ for the thousands of messages of love and support she has received. She is overwhelmed at the moment but will try to reply to them all in due course.”
Key Points
- Charity to enter talks with Home Secretary over online behaviour
- Jay Slater’s mother says ‘our hearts are broken’
- Body found in Tenerife belongs to Jay Slater, autopsy confirms
- Emotional vigil held in Jay Slater’s hometown
- British teenager’s family believe he died instantly after falling from height
‘So much to do'
22:30
Alex Ross
Work is taking place to repatriate Jay Slater’s body with the family working through documents with help from charity LBT Global.
The teenager’s body was discovered on Monday, and now it’s hoped the family can bring it home to Lancashire for a funeral.
Speaking to the BBC, Matthew Searle, chief executive of LBT Global, said: “There is so much to do, and obviously when you’re in a foreign country, and you don’t speak the language, and you’ve got no-one around you to help really, and you’re in the position that Jay’s parents are in... it’s just not the kind of thing that you cope with, it’s just overwhelming.”
It’s not thought the process will be complete for at least a week.
Floral tributes
21:30
Alex Ross
As we’ve already reported, floral tributes have been left close to the scene of where Jay Slater’s body was discovered.
His mother Debbie Duncan wrote: “To my beautiful boy. I’m so sorry we never found you. I miss you so much. You will be forever young and forever missed. Love you so much, Mum.”
And a post from his father read: “To my Boy, Love Dad, Always, XXXX.”
The handwritten messages are at a memorial which also includes a teddy bear wearing an England shirt.
Three unanswered questions
20:30
Alex Ross
Despite the discovery of Jay Slater’s body, questions still remain.
They include;
Why was he in the national park?
Why did he choose to walk instead of wait for a bus?
Who were the men he was with?
Here we take a look at the the three questions:
GoFundMe proceeds could be used for repatriation costs
19:30
Alex Ross
Almost £60,000 has been raised on the GoFundMe page for Jay Slater’s search.
Now his body has been found, the BBC says it understands some of it could be used for repatriation costs.
The family is working through documents to return the teenager’s body home with the help of charity LBT Global.
It’s hoped insurance money will cover the cost of returning Jay’s body home - but the fundraiser proceeds offer another option.
‘Time to grieve’
18:30
Alex Ross
Now the family have the body of Jay Slater, the process of bringing the 19-year-old’s body home has started.
Matthew Searle, boss at charity LBT Global, said his group was helping with documents and translation as part of the repatriation process.
He said, while the family is devastated, the discovery of Jay’s body will bring some closure.
He said: “They can begin to grieve. When you have the discovery, you have a body and you can it take it home and you can grieve and then start the process of trying to rebuild your lives.”
Still questions over Jay’s death
17:30
Alex Ross
Matthew Searle, chief executive of charity LBT Global, which has been supporting the family, said that while the family had now confirmation over Jay’s death and how he died, there were still some unanswered questions.
He told The Independent that they will still “wonder” why the 19-year-old was in the ravine, off the main road, when he died, and where he was heading to exactly.
They are questions the family may never find out, but they will soon be able to fly his body home for a funeral.
Mother’s personal message
16:10
Alex Ross
We’ve been speaking to Matthew Searle, boss at charity LBT Global, who has been helping Jay Slater’s mother as they look to bring the teenager’s body back home.
He has issued a personal message from mother Debbie Duncan, which reads: “Thank you very much for the thousands of messages of love and support she [Debbie] has received. She is overwhelmed at the moment but will try to reply to them all in due course.”
He said the group was helping Debbie work through the documents and translations to ensure repatriation “goes smoothly” - although Jay’s body isn’t expected to fly home for at least a week.
Mr Searle said he hoped Debbie would be returning home to the UK on the same flight.
‘I’m sorry we never found you’ - Jay Slater’s mother in floral tribute
14:20
Alex Ross
Floral tributes have been left by Jay Slater’s family beside a large rock that overlooks the ravine in Tenerife where his body was found on Monday morning.
As reported in the Daily Mail, the memorial includes a teddy bear wearing an England shirt and a red jar with a candle.
One note on flowers signed ‘mum’, reads: “To my beautiful boy. I’m so sorry we never found you. I miss you so much. You will be forever young and forever missed.”
Another moving message by father Warren Slater reads: ‘To my Boy, Love Dad, Always, XXXX’.
Jay could have been looking for way to beach - claim
13:23
Alex Ross
After Jay Slater’s body was discovered in the valley close to where his phone last pinged, questions have been asked on where he was heading.
The 19-year-old’s body was found in the Valley of Barranco de Juan Lopez, close to the village of Masca.
The village is where the teenager left an Airbnb he went to with two men after a music event on 16 June.
The Signi Zoekhonden charity said it was working in the valley to ensure nothing was left which could explain how the young man died.
Search coordinator Esther van Neerbos told Sky News it was likely Jay was walking down the valley in a shortcut to get tothe sea.
“I think this was a shorter way to go back, to get to the beach,” she said.
“By the beach is his house [holiday accommodation] so probably he wanted to do that.”
Bringing Jay’s body home
12:23
Alex Ross
LBT Global, which has been helping the family of Jay Slater, says it is looking at bringing Jay Slater’s body back to Lancashire.
Chief executive Matthew Searle said he was dealing with “massive paperwork, translations and logistics” in an interview with Sky News.
It’s more than four weeks since the 19-year-old left his home to go on holiday with friends on the Spanish island.
People posting ‘vile stuff’ online
11:23
Alex Ross
Sky News focused in on some of the theories that circulated during the disappearance of Jay Slater, asking charity LBT Global, which supported the family, how they had impacted the search.
Matthew Searle, the charity’s chief executive, said it took teams a “huge amount of time” to eliminate the ideas flown about that were untrue.
Hundreds of emails were also sent to his charity from people who claimed they knew how Jay was - each one of them had to be followed up, Mr Searle said.
Mr Searle said: “Ultimately it hinders the search and it’s terrifyingly horrible for a family that are going through this.”
Family pain suffered at the hands of trolls
10:22
Alex Ross
As reported, charity LBT Global has been helping the family of Jay Slater.
It produced a statement on behalf of Jay’s mother after he was found, and now chief executive Matthew Searle has been speaking on the teenager’s mother, Debbie Duncan’s, behalf.
When interviewed by The Independent, Mr Searle said frenzies speculation and online trolling had made it “incredibly difficult” for the family.
He said: “She’s [Debbie Duncan] found it incredibly difficult dealing with this whole situation, but with the additional stress and trauma put on her by the amount of obscene trolling, armchair detectives, so-called experts and specialists – it’s been really hard on her and the family.”
Mr Searle plans to speak to the Home Secretary Yvette Cooper on the issue
Charity to enter talks with Home Secretary
09:19
Alex Ross
The spiralling of theories spouted out by people on Facebook groups hindered the search for Jay Salter, claims the boss of the charity which helped his family.
The case attracted huge worldwide attention, after the 19-year-old went missing while on holiday in the island.
But while people thought they might be helping the search teams’ efforts on the ground, Mattheew Searle, chief executive of LBT Global, said they were, in fact, hindering them.
He’s also spoken of his concern over the vile comments spread about the teenager, which he said caused pain for the family.
He now plans to talk to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper on how to tackle the issue.
Jay Slater's family 'take small comfort' from belief he died instantly
07:02
Tara Cobham
Jay Slater's family have taken "very small comfort" in their belief that he died instantly after falling from a significant height, a charity chief who has been speaking with his mother has said.
Matthew Searle, chief executive of LBT Global, told The Independent he had been speaking with Debbie Duncan, 55, at length after Spanish authorities concluded her son's injuries were consistent with an accidental fall.
Mr Searle, whose charity has been supporting Mr Slater's family during this ordeal, said they had looked closely at the area where the rescue teams were searching when they found the 19-year-old's body.
“Chances are if he did fall from a height where we saw the recovery teams then it’s very unlikely he would have known much about it,” said the charity CEO. “That takes away the horrible nightmare idea that he fell and was waiting for help that never came. It’s very small comfort, but it is some.”
Civil Guard insist they continued search discreetly
05:59
Andy Gregory
Tenerife’s civil guard insists it had continued its search discreetly, despite having publicly called off the search over two weeks ago.
After 13 days of searching, the Spanish authorities called off the search on June 30, but said they were continuing their investigation.
However upon recovering Jay Slater’s body on Monday, they revealed they had indeed continued an “incessant and discreet” search in which the “natural space was preserved so that it would not be filled with curious onlookers”.
Body found ‘in very inaccessible area’
04:55
Andy Gregory
Jay Slater’s phone was last located near a stretch of road by the Mirador La Cruz de Hilda, a cafe near the village of Masca with cacti and dense shrubbery on either side, which had made it slow work for helicopters, drones and sniffer dogs to comb through the area.
The body discovered on Monday morning was found by Civil Guard mountain rescue specialists in a “very inaccessible” area, officials said.
Timeline: The search for missing teenager Jay Slater in Tenerife
03:41
Andy Gregory
Here is a timeline of the key events prior to Jay Slater’s disappearance and leading up to the discovery of his body:
Watch: Britons using new safety measures in Tenerife after Jay Slater disappearance
02:31
Andy Gregory
Coroner has no found no indication of criminal activity, charity says
01:18
Tara Cobham
Jay Slater’s body should be repatriated to the UK in the coming days, according to a charity supporting his family.
Matthew Searle, chief executive of LBT Global, told The Independent his charity and Mr Slater’s family are “working closely” with Spanish authorities following the autopsy results.
He said: “As the coroner hasn’t found any indication of criminal activity, the body will be released soon and repatriated to the UK. We would expect that to happen in the coming days.”
TikToker fears he may have walked past Jay Slater’s body ‘five or six times’
Wednesday 17 July 2024 00:10
Andy Gregory
A TikToker who answered family pleas to join the hunt for Jay Slater in Tenerife is puzzled by the discovery of his body in an area he believed had been searched thoroughly.
Londoner Callum Fahim scoured the rocky ravines of the Spanish island with a search party just days after the apprentice bricklayer vanished outside a remote Airbnb in Masca.
Mr Fahim spoke to The Independent shortly after a Spanish court said autopsy fingerprinting confirmed the body belongs to the teenager, and said he feared he may have walked past the body “five or six times”.
Jay Slater’s mother laments ‘the worst news'
Tuesday 16 July 2024 23:15
Andy Gregory
Matthew Searle MBE, head of the charity LBT Global, was talking to Jay Slater’s mother Debbie Duncan at the time the news of the autopsy confirmation broke, and she and Jay’s family were devastated at the news, the charity said
Ms Duncan 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”.
Jay Slater’s mother ‘devastated’, family source says
Tuesday 16 July 2024 22:34
Andy Gregory
A family source told The Sun that Jay’s mother Debbie Duncan was completely devastated, saying: “It’s the news they’ve all been dreading. She has a lot of questions which she hopes will be answered in the coming days.
“It hasn’t completely sunk in yet. The hardest thing for her is to hear he was found so close to the original search site. It’s hard to take. It means it’s entirely possible they have walked past his body whilst searching for him.
“It seems incredible so many people walked that area and yet he was so close. As we have seen with mountainous terrain and ravines, it does happen — no matter how hard that is to believe.”
Emotional vigil held in Jay Slater’s hometown
Tuesday 16 July 2024 22:32
Athena Stavrou
Dozens of balloons have been released in Jay Slater’s hometown as those who knew him held an emotional vigil in memory of the teenager.
Tearful locals comforted each other in Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, on the day authorities in Tenerife confirmed they had found his body in the Rural de Teno park.
While Jay’s mother, Debbie Duncan, and father, Warren Slater, are still on the island as four weeks of gruelling searching come to a close, loved ones in the UK paid tribute.
Jay’s football coach, Pam Kierons, laid flowers in memory of the apprentice bricklayer and told The Mirror: “I’m devastated for the family, devastated for Debbie. The outcome is not what anyone wanted, but at least they can bring his body home.
“It’s disgusting that people have dug into past issues and come up with crazy conspiracy theories. Sadly the most likely thing to have happened has happened.”
Reverend Matt Smith told the paper: “Our thoughts and our prayers are with them. We’re here and supporting them for when they need us.”
Blue ribbons were tied to trees and lamp posts across the area as dozens of blue balloons were released.
Mapped: Jay Slater's last known whereabouts
Tuesday 16 July 2024 21:48
Andy Gregory
What did Spanish authorities say today?
Tuesday 16 July 2024 20:59
Andy Gregory
Spanish authorities have confirmed that the body found in Tenerife was that of Jay Slater and that the injuries he sustained were compatible with an accidental fall.
“We have a positive ID,” a court spokesperson said. “Fingerprinting confirms that the body belongs to Jay Slater and the death was due to multiple traumas compatible with a fall in the mountainous area.”
Full report: Jay Slater’s ‘devastated’ family say their worst fears have been realised
Tuesday 16 July 2024 20:39
Andy Gregory
Jay Slater's “devastated” family have said their “worst fears have been realised” after a body found in the search for the missing British teenager has been confirmed as him.
The CEO of the charity LBT Global, which has been supporting Mr Slater’s family during the ordeal, said he was with the teenager’s mother Debbie Duncan, 55, when the “worst news” broke.
Speaking of Mr Slater’s family, Matthew Searle told The Independent: “It’s just the worst news they could possibly expect. There’s always that slim hope until confirmation comes that they’ve got it wrong and it’s someone else, but sadly they haven’t got it wrong and their worst fears have been realised.”
My colleague Tara Cobham has the full report on today’s events:
Jay Slater’s mother ‘would have never given up looking for him’, say former headteachers
Tuesday 16 July 2024 20:15
Andy Gregory
The headteachers at Jay Slater’s former primary and secondary schools have released new statements following the discovery of his body in Tenerife.
Andrew Williams, of Rhyddings High School, and James McBride of West End Primary School, said all members of their communities sent their deepest sympathies to anyone who knew the 19-year-old.
“As a devoted mother, we know Debbie would have never given up looking for Jay, and she and the family are firmly in our thoughts and prayers at this difficult time,” their statement said.
“We hope that this tragic discovery will not only dispel any rumours, but allow the family to return with their son and afford them the dignity of their private grief and mourning.”
Where was Jay Slater last seen and where was his body found?
Tuesday 16 July 2024 19:38
Andy Gregory
When British teenager Jay Slater vanished in northern Tenerife a month ago, the case captured the attention of the nation.
Tens of thousands of pounds were donated by the public to fund the search, with some even volunteering to fly over to the popular holiday island to assist. Helicopters, sniffer dogs and, in the last days of the search, private experts were brought in, in the hope of finding the Lancashire teenager.
The search followed Mr Slater’s last known steps through treacherous valleys and dangerous ravines until his body was found after four gruelling weeks.
My colleague Alexander Butler has more details:
Church in Jay Slater hometown to open this evening to support community
Tuesday 16 July 2024 19:01
Andy Gregory
West End Methodist Church in Oswaldtwistle is set to open this evening for people to light a candle, say prayers and write messages of support to the loved ones of Jay Slater, the Lancashire Telegraph reports.
Reverend Matt Smith was quoted as saying: “We are going to open the church from 7pm to 8pm for people to come and be together.
“It won’t be a service, that will be on Sunday as normal at 10.30am, but it’s a place for people to come together, to support each other and say prayers and write messages of support for the family and be together.”
Watch: Jay Slater's friend recalls final phone call before teenager went missing in Tenerife
Tuesday 16 July 2024 18:31
Andy Gregory
Jay Slater was ‘hardworking apprentice with bright future’, says college
Tuesday 16 July 2024 18:03
Andy Gregory
Accrington and Rossendale College, where Jay Slater was an apprentice bricklayer, has released a statement to the BBC stating the college is “deeply saddened to hear the news” of the 19-year-old’s death.
“Jay was a hard-working apprentice ... with a very bright future ahead of him and our thoughts and condolences go out to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him,” the statement said.
Acknowledging that the past month has been an “incredibly difficult time”, the college said it would provide support and resources for those who need it.
Oswaldtwistle resident expresses sympathy for Jay Slater family
Tuesday 16 July 2024 17:39
Andy Gregory
Sarah, a resident from Jay Slater’s hometown of Oswaldtwistle, told BBC Radio Lancashire: “I didn’t know the lad personally … but it’s close to home so it affects you. It’s so sad for his mum, dad, his friends and family.”
Sarah said she was among residents who had tied blue ribbons outside their houses to show support to Jay’s family, adding: “They’re all still everywhere. It’s really sad.”
Three unanswered questions about British teen’s disappearance on Tenerife
Tuesday 16 July 2024 17:09
Andy Gregory
“All indications” suggest that the body found could be that of Jay Slater, who “could have died due to an accidental fall in the steep and inaccessible area where he was found”, the Civil Guard has said.
With post-mortem and forensic investigations yet to conclude, questions remain over how the apprentice bricklayer went missing in an area inundated with tourists:
Trolling put Jay Slater's mother through more 'stress and trauma' on top of ordeal
Tuesday 16 July 2024 16:39
Tara Cobham
Online trolling put Jay Slater’s mother through “additional stress and trauma” on top of the already “incredibly difficult” situation she was enduring over her missing son.
Matthew Searle, CEO of the charity LBT Global, which is supporting the teenager’s family, told The Independent: “She’s found it incredibly difficult dealing with this whole situation, but with the additional stress and trauma put on her by the amount of obscene trolling, armchair detectives, so-called experts and specialists – it’s been really hard on her and the family.”
He compared it to the frenzied online speculation that surrounded the Nicola Bulley case, which was condemned by some of her loved ones.
Jay Slater's family are 'devastated' after 'worst fears realised'
Tuesday 16 July 2024 16:20
Tara Cobham
Jay Slater’s family are “devastated” after “their worst fears have been realised”, the chief of a charity supporting his loved ones has said.
LBT Global’s Matthew Searle MBE was talking to the teenager’s mother Debbie Duncan, 55, when the news that her son’s body had been identified broke.
Mr Searle told The Independent: “It’s just the worst news they could possibly expect. There’s always that slim hope until confirmation comes that they’ve got it wrong and it’s someone else, but sadly they have’t got it wrong and their worst fears have been realised.”
He added: “They’re pretty much lost for words – just how devastated they are.”
Ms Duncan is still in Tenerife along with the 19-year-old’s father Warren Slater, 47, as well as one of his friends Brandon Hodgson, 19. Mr Searle said the family are not currently disclosing when they will be returning home to the UK, nor releasing any funeral details at this time.
TikToker fears he may have walked past Jay Slater’s body ‘five or six times’ during Tenerife search
Tuesday 16 July 2024 16:03
Andy Gregory
A TikToker who answered family pleas to join the hunt for Jay Slater in Tenerife is puzzled by the discovery of his body in an area he believed had been searched thoroughly.
Londoner Callum Fahim scoured the rocky ravines of the Spanish island with a search party just days after the apprentice bricklayer vanished outside a remote Airbnb in Masca.
Mr Fahim spoke to The Independent shortly after a Spanish court said autopsy fingerprinting confirmed the body belongs to the teenager. He said: “I’m absolutely devastated.
“We searched that area on the first day right next to where he was found further down. It is very dangerous there and inaccessible really. They had to get a helicopter to lift searchers out of there.
He added: “I am gutted we couldn’t find him sooner because there would have been a chance to save his life. I will always question myself - could I have done better? I do feel like I failed a little bit, no matter what people say. I imagine I’ve walked past him five or six times.”
My colleague Barney Davis has more details from the interview here:
Jay Slater's family 'take small comfort' from belief he died instantly
Tuesday 16 July 2024 15:46
Tara Cobham
Jay Slater’s family have taken “very small comfort” in their belief that he died instantly after falling from a significant height, a charity chief who has been speaking with his mother has said.
Matthew Searle, chief executive of LBT Global, told The Independent he had been speaking with Debbie Duncan, 55, at length after Spanish authorities concluded her son’s injuries were consistent with an accidental fall.
Mr Searle, whose charity has been supporting Mr Slater’s family during this ordeal, said they had looked closely at the area where the rescue teams were searching when they found the 19-year-old’s body.
“Chances are if he did fall from a height where we saw the recovery teams then it’s very unlikely he would have known much about it,” said the charity CEO.
“That takes away the horrible nightmare idea that he fell and was waiting for help that never came. It’s very small comfort, but it is some.”
Jay Slater's body set to be repatriated to UK in coming days, says charity supporting family
Tuesday 16 July 2024 15:30
Tara Cobham
Jay Slater’s body should be repatriated to the UK in the coming days, according to a charity supporting his family.
Matthew Searle, chief executive of LBT Global, told The Independent his charity and Mr Slater’s family are “working closely” with Spanish authorities following the autopsy results.
He said: “As the coroner hasn’t found any indication of criminal activity, the body will be released soon and repatriated to the UK. We would expect that to happen in the coming days.”
Charity calls for ‘end to all hurtful comments’ on social media
Tuesday 16 July 2024 15:16
Andy Gregory
Matthew Searle, from LBT Global, said the charity was working with the family to sort out the next steps of taking his body home and the recovery of his belongings.
He said: “We are working with the family now to sort out the next steps of taking Jay home, recovery of his belongings and laying him to rest back.
“We will not be releasing details of travel timings or funeral arrangements at this time and ask again for privacy for the family. I ask now that this is the end of all the hurtful comments on social media and elsewhere”.
Watch: Footage shows terrain searched by team who found body in Jay Slater
Tuesday 16 July 2024 15:01
Andy Gregory
Jay Slater’s friend pays heartfelt tribute to ‘one of a kind’ teenager
Tuesday 16 July 2024 14:47
Andy Gregory
Following the discovery of Jay Slater’s body, his friend Lucy Law, who was the last known person to speak to him during a phone call on 17 June, issued a tribute on her Instagram page.
She said: “Honestly lost for words. Always the happiest and most smiley person in the room, you was one of a kind Jay and you’ll be missed more than you know.
“I’m sure you’ll ‘have your dancing shoes polished and ready’ waiting for us all. We all love you buddy. Fly high.”
Jay Slater appeared to die of injuries consistent with accidental fall, charity says
Tuesday 16 July 2024 14:31
Andy Gregory
Post-mortem examinations on the remains found in Tenerife have now been carried out, and officials have confirmed that the fingerprint analysis confirms the body is that of Jay Slater.
Matthew Searle MBE, the chief executive of charity LBT Global, which is supporting the family, said: “The announcement does seem to confirm that Jay died of injuries consistent with an accidental fall from a considerable height.
“There will of course be many more hurdles for the family to face in the coming days and we will work with them to make this horrific time as easy as possible.”
Jay Slater’s mother says ‘our hearts are broken’ after body identified
Tuesday 16 July 2024 14:17
Andy Gregory
Jay Slater’s mother has said her family’s “hearts are broken” after a body found in the search for the British teenager was confirmed to be his.
Debbie Duncan said the confirmation of her son’s death in Tenerife was “the worst news”.
In a statement released through the charity LBT Global, she said: “I just can’t believe this could happen to my beautiful boy. Our hearts are broken.”
Injuries Jay Slater sustained are compatible with accidental fall, Spanish authorities confirm
Tuesday 16 July 2024 13:54
Tara Cobham
The body found in Tenerife is that of missing British teenager Jay Slater and the injuries sustained were compatible with an accidental fall, Spanish authorities confirmed on Tuesday.
"We have a positive ID... Fingerprinting confirms that the body belongs to Jay Slater and the death was due to multiple traumas compatible with a fall in the mountainous area," a court spokesperson said. Earlier, the same spokesperson said autopsy results would still take some days to materialise.
The body was found in a remote area of the Spanish island on Monday morning by a Civil Guard mountain rescue group.
Mr Slater, 19, went missing on 17 June and his phone was last traced to the Masca ravine in a remote national park on the Canary Islands archipelago.
The remains were found with the 19-year-old’s possessions and clothes and it is understood it was discovered close to the site of his mobile phone's last location, missing persons charity LBT Global said on Monday.
Body found in Tenerife belongs to Jay Slater, autopsy confirms
Tuesday 16 July 2024 13:19
Tara Cobham
The body found in Tenerife belongs to missing Briton Jay Slater, an autopsy has confirmed.
A court spokesperson said this afternoon that autopsy fingerprinting confirms that the body found on the Spanish island belongs to the 19-year-old.
Documents found on body discovered in search for Jay Slater did belong to teenager, officials say
Tuesday 16 July 2024 13:05
Tara Cobham
Documents found on the body discovered in the search for Jay Slater did belong to the teenager, officials in Tenerife have said.
The Canary Islands High Court of Justice added that the 19-year-old in all likelihood suffered an accidental fall, reported the BBC, but the cause of death is yet to be determined.
Spanish police release footage of new search highlighting difficulty of navigating terrain
Tuesday 16 July 2024 13:01
Tara Cobham
Spanish police have released new footage of rescue teams scouring the area where the body believed to be that of Jay Slater was found, highlighting how difficult the terrain is to navigate as well as to search.
The video released by the Guardia Civil on Tenerife this morning shows rescue teams clambering up steep, rocky cliffs and chopping down thick undergrowth in the remote valley near the village of Masca, with a helicopter also seen flying overhead.
#RescatesGC | Agentes de la @GuardiaCivil pertenecientes al Grupo de Rescate e Intervención en Montaña #GREIM han localizado el cuerpo sin vida de un joven en la zona de Masca, perteneciente al municipio de Buenavista del Norte #Tenerife pic.twitter.com/1oq41fWYRg
— Guardia Civil (@guardiacivil) July 16, 2024
Area where body was found in hunt for Jay Slater is reportedly being searched again
Tuesday 16 July 2024 12:52
Tara Cobham
The area where the body was found in the hunt for Jay Slater is reportedly being searched again.
Rescue teams are today scouring the remote valley in Tenerife where the human remains that are believed to be that of the teenager were discovered.
The fresh search is being carried out in the remote area near the village of Masca to make sure nothing is missed in the thick undergrowth, according to media reports.
The 19-year-old was last seen about one mile away from the new search site, while his mobile phone was last detected nearby.
A local resident told Sky News it is “exceptionally difficult” to safely walk down the valley.
Another resident said: “It is sad – the spot where they found him shows he had gone a long way into the ravine. It is hard to understand how he got there.”
Tenerife officials ‘say identification of body will likely not happen until next week'
Tuesday 16 July 2024 12:25
Tara Cobham
Tenerife officials have reportedly now said full identification of the body recovered in the search for Jay Slater will likely not happen until next week.
However, the officials on the Spanish island said the documentation found on the body did belong to the teenager, according to the Express.
In the first comments from the investigating court since the discovery, an official representing the judge said: “There is very little doubt about both the identity and the aetiology. The documentation he was carrying corresponds to that of Jay Slater and everything is pointing to an accidental fall, although that is unofficial pending the final reports.”
The official from the court in the town of Icod de los Vinos – which covers the area of Masca, where the body was found – added: “The court is saying the official identification will not be known until next week.”
Jay Slater’s friends pay heartfelt tribute to ‘happiest person in the room’ after discovery of a body
Tuesday 16 July 2024 11:30
Tara Cobham
The friends who went on holiday with Jay Slater have written about the “happiest and most smiley person in the room” after a body was discovered in the mountains of Tenerife.
Human remains were found on Monday alongside the 19-year-old’s possessions and clothes, with initial police investigations suggesting he “could have suffered an accidental fall”. The body has not yet been formally identified.
The apprentice bricklayer vanished almost one month ago after a night out with friends on the Spanish island.
My colleague Barney Davis has the full story:
Police believe Jay Slater suffered a fall in Tenerife
Tuesday 16 July 2024 11:00
Tara Cobham
Police believe Jay Slater suffered a fall in Tenerife after a body was discovered that is believed to be that of the 19-year-old.
The Spanish Civil Guard said initial investigations suggest the teenager “could have suffered an accident fall” in the steep and inaccessible area where the remains were found.
The force said an autopsy will be performed on the body “to confirm that the death was accidental”.
Touching new pictures of Jay Slater with friends revealed by Lucy Law in tribute
Tuesday 16 July 2024 10:49
Tara Cobham
Jay Slater’s family are ‘absolutely broken’ and believe he died instantly after falling from height
Tuesday 16 July 2024 10:24
Tara Cobham
Jay Slater’s “devastated” family are “absolutely broken” after the discovery of a body in the search for the missing teenager.
They believe the 19-year-old likely died instantly after falling from a height in a remote area, and are therefore no longer critical of the search for him.
A family spokesman told MailOnline on Tuesday: “The whole family is absolutely broken. They are devastated. It's not the outcome they were hoping for.
“Initially, they thought, how could he be so close and yet be missed? But now having seen the location, they appreciate the remoteness of it and there is no criticism of the search.
“It looks as if he fell from a height, so he would most likely have been killed instantly and he wasn't there for a long time.
“There will be a PM [post-mortem] in Tenerife and probably one in the UK, and repatriation should be within a week or so, it's all time-dependent.”
Autopsy of body found in Jay Slater search will ‘probably’ happen this morning
Tuesday 16 July 2024 09:33
Tara Cobham
An autopsy of the body thought to be that of Jay Slater will “probably” take place this morning.
DNA tests will be carried out to establish the person’s identity, along with an autopsy, which a police spokesman told Manchester Evening News would “probably” happen on Tuesday morning.
Jay Slater’s friend Lucy Law pays emotional tribute to ‘happiest and most smiley’ teenager
Tuesday 16 July 2024 09:05
Tara Cobham
Jay Slater’s friend Lucy Law has paid an emotional tribute to the teenager as “the happiest and most smiley person in the room”.
Writing on Instagram last night, she said: “Honestly lost for words. Always the happiest and most smiley person in the room, you was one of a kind Jay and you’ll be missed more than you know. I’m sure you’ll ‘have your dancing shoes polished and ready’ waiting for us all. We all love you buddy. Fly high.”
Ms Law, Mr Slater and their other friend Brad Hargreaves had all been on holiday together in Tenerife when the 19-year-old vanished.
Mapped: Where was Jay Slater last seen and where was the body found?
Tuesday 16 July 2024 08:40
Tara Cobham
