The mother of Jay Slater, the teenager who went missing in Tenerife and was later found dead in a mountainous area, has made a heartfelt plea for additional support to fund his send-off.
Debbie Duncan released a statement expressing her desire to give her son “the send-off he deserves” and asked the public to “continue to share and support our fundraiser however you can.”
Earlier this week, officials on the Canary Island confirmed that a body found by rescue workers near the village of Masca belonged to the 19-year-old Briton. Jay had attended a music festival in the southern resort of Playa de las Americas and was last seen heading towards the Masca area.
Jay’s friend, Lucy Law, reported that she had spoken to him on the morning of his disappearance. He had told her he was lost, in need of water, and that his phone battery was critically low. He mentioned his intention to walk from a northern area of the island back to his holiday accommodation in Los Cristianos—a journey that would take approximately 11 hours.
Following the confirmation of Jay’s identity, Ms Duncan expressed her heartbreak, stating, “I can’t believe this could happen to my beautiful boy.”
In her latest statement, she further thanked everyone for their support: “Hello everyone, thank you for all of your kindness, support, and condolences in light of the tragic news that Jay’s body has been found. We are overwhelmed with grief and are so grateful for your support.
She also extended her gratitude to the Dutch search team, Signi Zoekhonden, who have been assisting in Spain and are due to return home soon. Additionally, she thanked LBT Global for their support during this difficult 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 with this if needed and to pay for Jay’s funeral costs back home. We want to give our boy the send-off he deserves so please do continue to share and support our fundraiser however you can,” she added.
The tragic circumstances surrounding Jay’s death have touched many, and the outpouring of support from the community has been significant. The family hopes that with continued generosity, they can give Jay a fitting farewell.
