British teen's body found in Tenerife after month-long search
Debbie Duncan, the mother of Jay Slater, has confirmed the worst fears: her son is dead. His fingerprints identified the 19-year-old. His body was found after 29 days of searching in the Masca Gorge. The family is devastated.
It has been officially confirmed that the body found in the mountainous region of Tenerife belongs to British citizen Jay Slater. Debbie Duncan, the mother of the 19-year-old, is shaken by her son's death. She called the information from authorities "the worst she could have received."
I just can't believe this could happen to my beautiful boy. Our hearts are broken – she said.
Jay Slater disappeared without a trace on June 17 during a vacation with friends Brad Hargreaves and Lucy Law. He went early in the morning, after leaving a nightclub, with two men to their apartment north of the Canary Islands.
Police found the body on July 15. It had been 29 days since the search began. The phone of the 19-year-old last logged in nearby. Officials stated the remains were "very deteriorated," and documents found with them belonged to Jay.
According to the findings of the Spanish authorities, the teenager's death was caused by injuries from a fall in the rocky terrain. Identifying the body was made possible by comparing fingerprints and a family viewing.
Jay's family is in Tenerife, awaiting answers
The charity organization LBT Global, which supports the teenager's family, stated that Jay's belongings were also found with him. The parents have flown to Tenerife and are fighting for answers that will determine the exact course and cause of their child's tragic death.
Today, Debbie Duncan said she would like to see her beloved son again. “Of course, it is a personal decision, but considering he was there for most of the month in such conditions, I am not sure if it will be a memory she would want to keep,” — commented one of the Spanish policemen.
Jay's body will be transported to the United Kingdom, where a second autopsy will likely be conducted. The court in Icod de los Vinos, which covers the Masca area where the body was found, is conducting its investigation.
