The mother of tragic Jay Slater has said the family are “grief-stricken” in a new message following the discovery of her son’s body in Tenerife.
Debbie Duncan said the family were going through an “impossible time” after Jay’s body was found in a dangerous gorge on the Spanish island on Monday morning. She thanked people for their support in a new message posted on a Go Fund Me page today (July 18).
Debbie also explained how the donations to the fundraiser will be spent, with the total now standing at almost £60,000. She said the family hoped to give Jay “the send-off he deserves”.
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In full, Debbie’s statement released today read: “Hello everyone, thank you for all your kindness, support and condolences in light of the tragic news of Jay’s body being found. We are overwhelmed with grief and are so grateful for your support.
“The wonderful team from the Netherlands, Signi Zoekhondon, have been in Spain all week and have continued to support us since Jay was found. They are due to return home in the coming days and we are very grateful for their dedication and support.
“We would like to thank LBT Global for their support during this impossible time. We are working with agencies to arrange Jay’s repatriation to the UK and the remaining funds, along with any future donations, will be used to help where needed and to pay for Jay’s funeral expenses at home.
“We want to give our boy the send-off he deserves, so please continue to share and support our fundraiser however you can.”
Jay’s body was found in a dangerous gorge by members of a Spanish Civil Guard mountain rescue team on Monday (July 15) after a grueling four-week search. The 19-year-old, from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, had gone missing on the Spanish island on June 17.
He had travelled to a remote Airbnb in the mountains of the north of the island with two men after a rave party in Playa de las America. The teenager had posted a video on Snapchat of himself at the Casa Abuela Tina property, near the village of Masca, shortly before making his final phone call to his friend Lucy Law.
He said he was walking back to his place but he was in the middle of nowhere trying to get home with no water and 1% battery on his phone. He sent his phone location from the mountains and that was the last anyone heard from him.
Yesterday, Jay’s family left touching tributes on the dirt road not far from the dangerous ravine where his body was discovered. Bouquets of blue and white flowers were laid with touching messages from Debbie Duncan, as well as Jay’s father Warren Slater and older brother Zak.
In a note left with some flowers, the teenager’s heartbroken mother Debbie wrote: “To my beautiful boy, I’m so sorry we never found you.
“I miss you so much. You will always be young and I will always miss you. Mom xxx.”
The message from his older brother Zak read: “I love you little brother, never in a million years did I think I’d say this. I’ll take care of mum and dad, hope you’re partying up there with grandpa.”
“I hope to see you again one day, rest well my brother, I love you Zak.”
His father Warren left a note that simply said, “To my boy, I love you dad.” In addition to the flowers, an English teddy bear and a large bottle of water were placed on the dirt path.
Matthew Searle, chief executive of Charity LBT Global, told The Independent the charity continued to support the family. He added that Debbie had felt “overwhelmed” by the support.
“Debbie has sent a personal message to say ‘thank you so much’ for the thousands of messages of love and support she has received,” he said. “She is upset at the moment but will try to respond in due course.”
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