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Jay Slater’s mother has said her family’s “hearts are broken” after a body found in the search for the British teenager in Tenerife was confirmed to be his.
“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 on Tuesday afternoon.
Human remains were found on Monday in the area where Slater disappeared near the village of Masca, almost a month after Slater went missing while on holiday on the Spanish island.
The apprentice bricklayer, from Lancashire, had been at the NRG music festival on 16 June before he travelled to an Airbnb in Masca with two men. He appeared to start an 11-hour walk back to his apartment the following morning and was last seen by a cafe owner.
His mother Debbie Duncan said the confirmation of her son’s death in Tenerife was “the worst news”, adding: “I just can’t believe this could happen to my beautiful boy. Our hearts are broken.”
Three unanswered questions about British teen’s disappearance on Tenerife
“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
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'
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
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
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
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
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
Jay Slater’s friend pays heartfelt tribute to ‘one of a kind’ teenager
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
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.”
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2024-07-16 16:09:23Z
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