Jay Slater’s body was discovered by Spanish police, bringing a tragic end to the search for the 19-year-old. The Slater family now faces the heart-wrenching task of bringing their ‘beautiful boy’ back home.
Jay, an apprentice bricklayer from Lancashire, was reported missing on June 17 while holidaying with friends in Tenerife. An extensive 29-day search ensued, ending in sorrow when his remains were found near his last known location in Rural de Teno Park, situated in the island’s northwest.
Tenerife authorities have warned that the identification process and determination of the cause of death may be prolonged due to the body’s advanced state of decomposition. Following the post-mortem examination, officials have pieced together a narrative of the young man’s final moments, revealing a tragic sequence of events.
Preliminary autopsy results suggest that Jay died from ‘a fall from height’, evidenced by multiple fractures. A Civil Guard spokesperson confirmed the injuries and identification, stating, “The body discovered yesterday has been identified as Jay Slater through fingerprint comparison. Initial autopsy findings indicate the cause of death was a fall from height, as evidenced by the broken bones sustained.”
A source close to the family told the Mail Online that they have found ‘very small comfort’ in the likelihood that Jay’s death was instantaneous. Upon formal identification, Jay’s mother, Debbie, shared her anguish: “I simply cannot believe this has happened to my beautiful boy. Our hearts are shattered.”
The family now endures another agonizing wait as they hope to repatriate Jay’s body to the UK. Debbie Duncan has turned to the fundraising page, initially set up to aid the search, to appeal for funeral donations, hoping to give her beloved son ‘the send-off he deserves’.
