Missing British Teenager Jay Slater body found in Tenerife ‘could have suffered accident’

Rescue workers searching for missing British teenager Jay Slater in Tenerife have discovered a body, which Spanish police believe strongly suggests it is that of the 19-year-old. The Civil Guard’s mountain rescue group found the remains in the Masca area after a relentless 29-day search.

LBT Global, a British overseas missing persons charity assisting the Slater family, stated, “The body does look to be that of Jay Slater.” The body was found near the last known location of Slater’s mobile phone, and it was found with his possessions and clothes. However, formal identification and a post mortem examination are still pending.

The discovery comes as a heartbreaking conclusion to the month-long search for Slater, who was last heard from on June 17. He had set off to walk from the northern area of the island to his holiday accommodation in the south, an arduous journey of about 11 hours. He had flown to Tenerife with friends on June 13 to attend a music festival at Papagayo nightclub in Playa de las Americas.

On the morning of June 17, Slater called his friend Lucy Law, reporting that he had missed a bus, his phone battery was almost dead, and he had injured his leg on a cactus. That was the last time anyone heard from him.

Sky News correspondent Shingi Mararike reported that Slater’s family never gave up hope and remained in Tenerife throughout the search, actively participating in efforts to find him. His father, Warren, frequently visited the area to retrace his son’s steps, expressing deep anguish over his son’s disappearance.

The challenging terrain of the Masca area complicated search efforts. Police commentator Graham Wettone noted the exceptional difficulty of navigating and thoroughly searching the rugged landscape with the available resources and equipment.

The news of the body’s discovery has been met with profound sorrow by Slater’s family and friends. His mother, Debbie Duncan, shared the family’s heartache, describing her son as “loved by everyone” and a “loving son, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin, and friend to so many.” She also expressed distress over the conspiracy theories circulating on social media, which she said hindered the investigation and caused additional pain to the family.

Authorities are awaiting the results of the autopsy to confirm the identity of the body and determine the exact cause of death. Meanwhile, the investigation into the circumstances surrounding Slater’s disappearance and death continues. The Slater family and investigators urge anyone with relevant information to come forward to aid in resolving this tragic case.