Jay Slater’s best friend Lucy Mae Law pays tribute to ‘the happiest person in the room’ after body found in Tenerife
JAY Slater’s best friend said she is “lost for words” after a body was found in the hunt for the Brit teen in Tenerife.
Searchers discovered remains in a ravine on Monday – four weeks after Jay, 19, disappeared while on holiday with pals Lucy Mae Law and Brad Hargreaves.
In a heartbreaking Instagram post, Lucy – who was one of the last people to speak to Jay before he vanished – said: “Honestly lost for words.
“Always the happiest and most smiley person in the room, you was one of a kind Jay and you’ll be missed more than you know.
“I’m sure you’ll ‘have your dancing shoes polished and ready’ waiting for us all.
“We all love you buddy. Fly high.”
Lucy, 18, shared the message alongside a string of images and videos of the pals together over the years.
An account apparently belonging to Brad wrote: “No words. Nothing will be the same without you. Rest easy brother. Love you always.”
Jay vanished 29 days ago 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 less than two weeks in – but a body was found on Monday in the area Jay was last known to have been.
Dramatic footage showed rescue workers using a helicopter to reach an “inaccessible” ravine.
Rescue workers could be seen hacking at bushes and climbing up the sides of the huge mountains as part of their hunt.
Specialists on the ground are said to have found the body at around 10am on Monday.
The Spanish Civil Guard said initial evidence suggests he “suffered an accident/fall in the area where he was found”.
A spokesman said: “Everything is pointing to the body being that of the young British man who disappeared on June 17, pending full identification.”
They added the search was “complicated” due to the “very difficult terrain”.
It is understood the body was found close to where Jay’s mobile phone last pinged – along with his belongings and clothes.
But Spanish cops have refused to reveal the exact location where the body was found.
An autopsy is expected to take place in the next couple of days in the northern Tenerife city of La Laguna.
Always the happiest and most smiley person in the room
Lucy Mae Law
Jay’s distraught family have been updated and a formal investigation by police is set to follow.
His mum Debbie Duncan, 55, was said to be “totally devastated” – and demanding answers over how police search teams missed the body.
A family source said: “It’s the news they have been dreading. She has lots of questions.”
A spokesperson for Lancashire Police said they have been notified by the Civil Guard that a body has been found – and that “the indications are that this is Jay Slater“.
They added: “While at this stage no formal identification has been carried out our thoughts are very much with Jay’s family at this time, and we continue to offer them our support.”
Jay was first reported missing the morning after he travelled to the unforgiving mountainous area of Tenerife in the early hours of June 17.
He went to stay at an Airbnb with two men after a night of partying.
He then left in the morning where he tried to do an 11-hour trek back to his own accommodation after missing the bus.
Jay made a final frantic call to friend Lucy 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.
Police combed the area in the south of the island for 12 days using a helicopter, drones and dogs.
To the family’s dismay the full search was suspended on June 29.
A body was then spotted on Monday at around 10am by members of the Mountain Rescue and Intervention Group – close to where his phone last pinged in an area too steep to access on foot.
The body of the young person was found in a very inaccessible area. The results of the autopsy are awaiting confirmation it is an accident
Spanish Civil Guard
The Civil Guard said: “After 29 constant days of searching, the lifeless body of the young man has been found in the Masca area.
“Given the complexity of the case the discovery has been possible thanks to the tireless and discreet search… in which the natural space was preserved.
“The body of the young person was found in a very inaccessible area. The results of the autopsy are awaiting confirmation it is an accident.
“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.
“We’ve always said the terrain is very difficult and the search was complicated.”
The shock news on Monday came hours after Jay’s family had marked four weeks since he disappeared.
Mum Debbie had said: “We cannot put into words the heartache we are suffering as a family. We are just a normal family desperate to find our beautiful boy.”
Jay’s family are being support by British Embassy officials. A post-mortem is expected to take place in the next 48 hours.
TIMELINE OF THE TRAGEDY
THE grim discovery of a body comes after weeks of agony for Jay’s friends and family. Here is how the events unfolded:
Sunday, June 16: Jay and his friends party at the last day of NRG music festival being held at Papagayo night club in Playa de la Americas, Tenerife.
June 17 3-6am: Jay leaves with Ayub Qassim and another man for a £40-a-night Airbnb 23 miles away in the village of Masca.
7.30am: Jay shares a photo on Snapchat standing at doorway of the Airbnb.
8.50am: He calls pal Lucy Mae Law and says he is “lost in the middle of nowhere” with no water, a cut to his leg and one per cent on his phone.
Tuesday, June 18: Pals search area but no sign of Jay. Local cops and mountain rescue teams start official search. Jay’s mother Debbie Duncan flies to Tenerife.
June 19-20: Spanish police deploy drones, dogs and a helicopter, but find no trace. Search moves to Los Cristianos amid possible sighting, but it is ruled out and they return to Rural de Teno, near Masca.
June 21: Lancashire Police offer support but it is declined.
June 22: Mum Debbie issues emotional appeal to Jay saying “We just need you home.”
June 24: Claims of Jay sighting in Santiago del Teide — near to where he disappeared — and family believe a grainy CCTV image could be of him.
June 25: Debbie issues plea for her son to come home as more friends fly out and TV investigator Mark Williams- Thomas joins search.
June 29: Cops rule Mr Qassim, and other man at Airbnb, out of investigation.
June 30: Spanish cops officially suspend hunt but say probe “remains open”. His family continue to search.
Yesterday: A body is found by helicopter search team close to where his phone last pinged. His possessions are discovered next to human remains. Spanish cops say it points to an “accidental fall”.
