Jay Slater cops say ‘evidence points to teen falling to his death’ after finding body in Tenerife
COPS fear Jay Slater may have accidentally fallen to his death in a remote area of Tenerife.
A body believed to be Jay’s was tragically found on Monday in the hunt for the missing British teenager after a gruelling four-week search.
Apprentice bricklayer Jay vanished on the morning of June 17 after going to a rave the night before with friends – sparking a huge effort to find the Lancashire teen.
Spanish cops axed the official search after two weeks – but today announced a body has been found in the area Jay was last known to be, Masca.
It’s understood the body was found close to the site of his phone’s last location, with Jay’s belongings and clothes.
A spokesman for the Civil Guard said initial evidence suggests the teenager “suffered an accident/fall in the area where he was found”.
They said: “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/fall in the area where he was found.”
Former investigator Mark Williams-Thomas – who has been working on the case for weeks – said: “Human remains found and all indications are that it is Jay Slater.
“The first investigations reveal that he could have suffered an accident fall in the inaccessible area.”
Jay’s distraught family have been updated and a formal investigation by police is set to follow.
British overseas missing persons charity LBT Global said: “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.
“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.”
Jay travelled to the unforgiving mountainous area in the early hours of June 17 with two men after a night of partying.
He then left in the morning, but after learning he’d missed the bus started trying to do the 11-hour trek back to his own accommodation.
One of the men – convicted drug dealer Ayub Qassim – says Jay left the house alive.
Jay made a final frantic call to friend Lucy Law to say he was lost, had one per cent phone battery, and needed water.
In an earlier call to friend Brad, his feet could be heard slipping on the rocks before.
Lucy reported Jay missing to Spanish cops a few hours after their final phone call – sparking a huge search across the island that would last for almost two weeks.
Jay’s upset mum Debbie Duncan quickly rushed over to Tenerife to help cops with their investigation.
She was later followed by Jay’s older brother Zak, 24, and his dad Warren Slater, 58, as well as a number of volunteers.
The case quickly gained global attention as the family called for help to scour the mountains where Jay’s phone last pinged on June 17.
Jay’s final location showed he was near Rural de Teno Park – a massive barren landscape filled with bushes and rocks.
Dozens of rescue workers and the Spanish Guardia Civil all took to the mountain range using sniffer dogs, drones, a helicopter and volunteers.
A GoFundMe page was set up to raise money for missing Jay’s family by Lucy which hit over £50,000 in a month.
Debbie revealed she would be withdrawing some of the donations to fly supporters out to Tenerife to help with the hunt just weeks into the search.
But after cops had no success, the official search was called off on June 30 after two weeks.
Jay’s heartbroken and frustrated family vowed to carry on the hunt regardless.
A new team led by local hiker Juan Garcia, and including Jay’s uncle Glen Duncan, dad Warren and brother Zak, focused on an area of a gorge close before exploring caves, ravines and slopes.
Seasoned mountain experts who were flown out by Jay’s family said the search was hampered by the altitude, heat and the size of the area.
Warren voiced similar concerns over the huge area they needed to look through.
He warned it would’ve taken “an army 10 years” to search the whole area as the distraught father pleaded with Interpol and British cops to help.
Statement from charity LBT Global
“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 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.”