British teen Jay Slater found dead in Canary Island Gorge
Debbie Duncan, the mother of Jay Slater, has confirmed the worst fears—her son is dead. The 19-year-old was identified by his fingerprints. His body was found after 29 days of searching in the Masca Gorge. The family is devastated.
5:04 AM EDT, July 17, 2024
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 news."
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. After leaving a nightclub, he went out early in the morning with two men to their apartment in the 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 significantly 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. The identification of 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.
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.
