The mother of Jay Slater, a 19-year-old from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, who vanished whilst on holiday in Tenerife, has expressed her profound anguish over her son’s disappearance. Jay was last seen on 17 June, having set off on foot towards his accommodation.
Despite an exhaustive fortnight-long search operation involving police and rescue teams, Jay remains unaccounted for. His mother, Debbie Duncan, conveyed the family’s distress through a statement released by LBT Global, a British charity supporting overseas missing persons cases.
“Our beautiful boy has his whole life ahead of him, and we’re desperate to locate him”, Ms Duncan shared. She described Jay as a popular young man in the third year of his apprenticeship, with a wide circle of friends. The family, known for their close-knit relationship, are grappling with unimaginable pain and uncertainty.
The search efforts have been extensive, utilising helicopters, drones, and search dogs. Jay arrived in Tenerife on 13 June for the NRG music festival, accompanied by two friends. His last known whereabouts was Rural de Teno Park in the island’s north, a considerable distance from his southern accommodation.
Ms Duncan commended the Spanish police for their tireless efforts, particularly in the mountainous region where Jay’s final phone call was traced. Although the land search has concluded after 12 days, investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding Jay’s unexpected journey to a remote location.
On Friday, the Guardia Civil called for volunteers experienced in navigating rugged terrain to join a “massive search” on Saturday, covering the steep, rocky areas around Masca. However, by Saturday, the Civil Guard announced the cessation of search efforts in the area, whilst detectives pursue various lines of inquiry.
As the family awaits a breakthrough, Ms Duncan has appealed for privacy and addressed the distressing conspiracy theories circulating about the case. She expressed gratitude for the global outpouring of support, particularly from their hometown of Oswaldtwistle.
The family continues to hope for Jay’s safe return as the investigation progresses.
