Debbie Duncan, the mother of missing 19-year-old Brit Jay Dean Slater, has issued a statement through the British overseas missing person charity LBT Global.

Despite extensive efforts, the search for Jay in Tenerife has yielded no results. In her first public comment, Debbie Duncan expressed her anguish and concern:

“My son, Jay Dean Slater, arrived on the holiday island of Tenerife on June 13th with a friend to attend a music festival. On June 17th, after failing to return to his apartment, he was reported missing. Jay is a normal young man in his third year of an apprenticeship, well-liked with a wide circle of friends.

Our family is devastated by his disappearance. Words cannot convey the pain we feel. Jay is our beautiful boy, with his whole life ahead of him, and we desperately want to find him.

We have no information about his whereabouts. The Guardia Civil conducted an exhaustive 12-day land search in the mountains where Jay’s last phone call was traced. Although the land search concluded, Spanish authorities continued their investigation into why Jay travelled so far from his accommodation.

We extend our sincere gratitude to the Spanish authorities for their ongoing efforts.

To the press and reporters, we ask for privacy during this difficult time. Let the Spanish police conduct their investigation without interference.

We are aware of conspiracy theories and speculation on social media and various websites. Such negativity is distressing to our family.

We appreciate the global outpouring of love and support, especially from Jay’s hometown in Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire.

As a family, we urge the world to respect our privacy.”