Body Discovered in Tenerife Where Jay Slater Went Missing
The body of a man believed to be missing teenager Jay Slater has been found in Tenerife, bringing a tragic conclusion to a month-long search. Jay Slater, a 19-year-old apprentice bricklayer from Oswaldtwistle in Lancashire, went missing on June 17 after leaving an Airbnb and attempting to walk back to his accommodation on the Spanish holiday island.
A spokesman for the Civil Guard announced on Monday, “After 29 constant days of searching the lifeless body of the young man has been found in the Masca area. The discovery has been possible thanks to the tireless and discreet search carried out by the Civil Guard over these 29 days. Everything is pointing to the body being that of the young British man who disappeared on June 17, pending full identification. Initial inquiries are pointing to him having suffered an accident or fall in the area where he was found.”
The discovery was made in the rugged terrain of the Masca area, near the site of the last known location of Slater’s mobile phone. Spanish authorities and the missing persons organization LBT Global confirmed that possessions and clothes belonging to Slater were found alongside the body.
LBT Global released a statement, expressing their sorrow: “LBT Global is saddened to announce that a body found in Tenerife does look to be that of Jay Slater. It is understood the body was found close to the site of his mobile phone’s last location. Although formal identification is yet to be carried out, the body was found with Mr. Slater’s possessions and clothes. A post-mortem examination and forensic enquiries will follow. LBT Global are supporting the family at this distressing time and ask for everyone to afford them space and privacy to come to terms with the news.”
The search for Slater was extensive, involving helicopters, drones, and search dogs. Despite the official large-scale operation being called off at the end of June, specialist mountain teams from the Guardia Civil continued their efforts. A spokesman for the Civil Guard explained, “The human remains were found some two hours before we went public with the information they had been found, so around 10 am local time. The large-scale operation involving multiple units had been suspended but as we always said, we never stopped looking for Jay. The mountain rescue group continued looking for the missing man when they were on duty and have now found the remains of a person they believe is him.”
Slater had attended the NRG music festival with two friends before his disappearance. His last known location was the Rural de Teno Park, a significant distance from his accommodation. On the morning of June 17, he called his friend Lucy Law, reporting that he had missed a bus, his phone battery was nearly dead, and he had injured himself on a cactus.
The family of Jay Slater has been informed of the discovery, and the community mourns the loss of the young man who had hoped to start his career as a bricklayer. The difficult terrain of Masca presented numerous challenges to search efforts, but the dedication of the Civil Guard and the support from various organizations highlighted the commitment to finding Jay.
As investigations continue, the focus now shifts to providing support to Jay Slater’s family and ensuring they have the privacy they need during this heart-wrenching time.