Jay Slater missing in Tenerife: Live updates as search teams discover body believed to be missing 19-year-old
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While formal identification has not yet taken place, the remains were found with the 19-year-old’s clothes and possessions near his last known location.
Members of a mountain rescue team from the Spanish Civil Guard discovered the body near the village of Masca today.
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Hide Ad“We are saddened to announce that a body found in Tenerife does look to be that of Jay Slater,” announced LBT Global, a charity which supports the families of British people missing overseas.
A spokesperson for the group said: “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.
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Hide Ad“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.”
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Tenerife’s Guardia Civil said on Monday that officers are waiting for the results of a post-mortem examination to confirm that Mr Slater died as a result of an accident.
The force added that Mr Slater, from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, could have fallen in the steep and inaccessible area where his remains were discovered.
The 19-year-old had attended the NRG music festival with two friends before his disappearance on June 17, and his last known location was the Rural de Teno Park in the north of the Canary Island, which was about an 11-hour walk from his accommodation.
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Hide AdHe had travelled to an Airbnb in Masca rented by two men he met on a night out, but the pair were later ruled “not relevant” to the case.
His family endured conspiracy theories and “awful comments” posted online during the search for the apprentice bricklayer, while supporters raised £50,000 to help fund the hunt for the teenager.
Spanish police called off the search for the apprentice bricklayer at the end of June after helicopters, drones and search dogs failed to find him.
But in its statement on Monday, the force said teams had never stopped searching for the missing teenager.
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Hide Ad“The discovery was possible thanks to the incessant and discreet search carried out by the Civil Guard during these 29 days, in which the natural space was preserved so that it would not be filled with onlookers,” its statement read.
You can find the latest updates on the investigation into Jay Slater’s disappearance in our live blog...
LIVE: Body found in search for missing Jay Slater, 19, in Tenerife
Key Events
- Jay Slater search teams discover body believed to be missing 19-year-old
- Police in Tenerife searching for missing Oswaldtwistle teen Jay Slater issue statement
- A huge group of family and friends from Oswaldtwistle head to Tenerife to help the search
- Mother of missing Lancashire-born Jay Slater issues desperate plea to son: "We just need you home"
- Snapchat video shows Jay smiling and laughing night before
- Full timeline of Jay's disappearance
Missing Lancashire teen in Tenerife Jay Slater is related to Coronation Street star
I think my son Jay Slater has been taken against his will, but it’s in the hands of the police
Police in Tenerife searching for missing Oswaldtwistle teen Jay Slater issue statement
Jay Slater search update as GoFundMe suspend fundraisers for 19-year-old lost in Tenerife due to scammers
Fundraising for a missing Lancashire teen lost in Tenerife has been suspended by GoFundMe after his family feared ‘scammers’ were trying to ‘cash in’.
Oswaldtwistle Councillor offers comforting message to Jay Slater and those looking for him in Tenerife
Lancashire County Councillor for Oswaldtwistle, Peter Britcliffe spoke about how the news has impacted everyone but the togetherness has shown how close-knit the community is.
Huge group of people from Oswaldtwistle fly out to Tenerife to help search for Jay Slater
The search for Jay Slater has ramped up as friends and family have joined the efforts in Tenerife.
Jay seen 'laughing and smiling' on Snapchat hours before vanishing
Missing Lancashire teenager Jay Slater was seen ‘laughing and smiling’ in a Snapchat video hours before disappearing into the mountains of Tenerife.
The clip was posted on a Facebook group set up to help find him.
Jay remains missing as of 10.50am
In a post on the Facebook group, Rach Louise Harg, an admin for the group, confirmed that Jay was still missing as of 10.50am.
"Hi everyone there still ISNT any news on Jay we are STILL looking !!!!", she said.
Jay last known location in 'middle of mountains'
Jay called friend Lucy around 8.15am on Monday to tell her he had only 1 per cent left on his phone. His mobile died with his last known location showing him in 'the middle of the mountains'.
Police stopping motorists in the area
According to the 'Jay Slater missing' Facebook group, police in Tenerife are reportedly stopping motorists as part of the search this morning.
Officers are reportedly showing them a photo of Jay and asking if they have any information on his whereabouts.
Statement from GoFundMe: "All campaigns for Jay are under review"
GoFundMe have issued a statement after several fundraisers were set up in Jay Slater's name.
The crowdfunder said 'all campaigns are under review' and that no money will be transferred unless it is verified that the donations will go to his family.
The statement said: "Our hearts go out to Jay Slater, his family and everyone else concerned about his disappearance. All campaigns are under review and no money will be transferred unless we can verify it goes straight to his family.
"At moments like this, we often see people set up campaigns to benefit strangers when they are moved to help. That is why we work with organisers to ensure any money donated goes to the right place.
"GoFundMe has a dedicated Trust & Safety team reviewing all relevant fundraisers. In addition to the team of experts, we deploy proprietary technical tools and have multiple processes in place to verify the identity of organizers and the recipient of the fundraiser.
"Before money is transferred, an individual or organization’s information, including their banking information, must be verified.”
"We've got your son": frantic mum Debbie plagued by 'horrible' hoax calls
Jay’s frantic mum Debbie says she has been plagued by ‘horrible’ and ‘disgusting’ phone calls from hoaxsters who claim to be holding her son captive on the Spanish island of Tenerife.
“People have called and told me that they have Jay because he owes them money,” she said. Click here for more from Jay’s mum Debbie
UK Government working with Spanish authorities
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office said: “We are supporting the family of a British man who has been reported missing in Spain and are in contact with the local authorities.”
Spanish police doing 'everything possible' to find Jay
A Civil Guard spokeswoman in Tenerife told the Daily Mail that “everything possible” was being done to find Mr Slater.
“A specialist Mountain Rescue and Intervention Group called the Greim have been mobilised.
“A police helicopter is also out and focusing on the area around the village of Masca.
“Other emergency services including firefighters have also been mobilised.
“Everything possible is being done to try to find the missing man.”
Frantic mum Debbie flies to Tenerife to find son
Mr Slater’s mother, Debbie, flew to Tenerife on Tuesday morning.
She told the Daily Mail: “I’m obviously beside myself with worry which is why I’ve flown out here with my eldest son to do anything we can to help.
“We’re just praying the police or someone finds Jay. I know there’s a mountain rescue team out and a helicopter.
“Nothing’s ever going to be enough when your youngest son’s gone missing but it sounds as if the police here are taking this very seriously and doing the best job they can.”
What Jay was wearing when he disappeared
Jay was last seen wearing a white T-shirt with shorts and trainers.
He was also believed to be carrying a black bag
Friend Lucy explains how Jay became lost
Lucy told the MEN that one of the people Mr Slater had met had driven them back to his apartment in a hire car and the missing man had not realised how far away it was.
“He’s ended up out in the middle of nowhere. Jay was obviously thinking he would be able to get home from there,” she said.
“But then in the morning he’s set off walking, using his Maps on his phone and ended up in the middle of mountains with nothing around.”
What we know so far...
Spanish police are searching for a British teenager who has gone missing during a holiday in Tenerife.
Jay Slater, 19, from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, was last heard from on Monday morning as he told a friend he planned to walk back to his accommodation after missing a bus, a journey expected to take around 11 hours on foot.
His friend Lucy – who had gone to the island with him to attend the NRG music festival – told the Manchester Evening News (MEN) that Mr Slater had gone to stay with people he had met on holiday after a night out.
She said she had received a call from Mr Slater at around 8.15am on Monday after he missed the bus and was trying to walk back although he had said he was lost, needed a drink of water and had only 1% battery on his phone.
Mr Slater’s phone then cut off, with his last location showing as the Rural de Teno park – a mountainous area popular with hikers.
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