Jay Slater confirmed dead after body found with ‘multiple injuries’ in Tenerife ravine is ID’d by fingerprints as Brit
THE body found in a mountainous area of Tenerife is Jay Slater’s, authorities have confirmed.
A court on the island today said they have ID’d the body by fingerprints and that Jay, 19, had suffered multiple injuries.
His death was caused by “trauma consistent with a fall in a rocky area”, the Canary Islands High Court of Justice said.
A spokesman said: “We have a positive ID… Fingerprinting confirms that the body belongs to Jay Slater and the death was due to multiple traumas compatible with a fall in the mountainous area.”
The court earlier said autopsy results would still take some days to materialise.
Spanish police yesterday recovered Jay’s body from a steep ravine in Masca after 29 days – understood to be close to where his phone last pinged.
Dramatic footage showed the moment a helicopter crewman was winched into the chasm with his arms aloft in the delicate recovery operation.
Apprentice bricklayer Jay, from Oswaldtwistle, Lancs, vanished in the area on June 17 after leaving an Airbnb he went to with two men.
As he attempted the 11-hour walk back to his own accommodation through the rough and rocky terrain, it is feared he slipped.
Officials say the body recovered was “very deteriorated” and documentation found with it were Jay’s.
Charity LBT Global, who are supporting the family, said Jay’s possessions were also found near the body.
His devastated mum Debbie Duncan today said she wanted to see her beloved son one more time.
Distraught Debbie, 55, and dad Warren Slater, 58, jetted to the island and have been battling for answers.
They got the news they were dreading on Monday when Spanish police revealed a body had been located.
A family spokesman told The Sun: “There should be no need for the family to have to perform a formal identification.
“Debbie has said she wants to see him one last time.
“Obviously that’s a personal voice but given he’s been there the best part of a month in those conditions, I’m not sure that’s a memory she will want.”
Arrangements are being made to repatriate the body to the UK where a second post-mortem is likely to be carried out by a Home Office pathologist.
A court in the town of Icod de los Vinos, which covers the area of Masca where the body was found, is in charge of the ongoing investigation.
Officials representing the investigating judge said earlier today: “In reference to the British citizen Jay Slater, the autopsy with the full identification of the body and the causes of death will take time, because the body was very deteriorated.
“But there is very little doubt about both the identity and the etiology.
“The documentation he was carrying corresponds to that of Jay Slater and everything is pointing to an accidental fall, although that is unofficial pending the final reports.”
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity as is normal in Spain, said: “The court is saying the official identification will not be known until next week.”
Jay vanished without a trace on June 17 while on holiday with friends Brad Hargreaves and Lucy Law.
He had gone in the early hours with two men to their Airbnb in the north of the Canary Island after leaving a music festival at a nightclub.
Later that morning he called Lucy from near remote Masca village to say he was thirsty and his phone battery was nearly dead.
His mobile cut out at 8.50am near a hiking trail in the Rural de Teno national park — an 11-hour trek from his apartment in the south of the island.
Police combed the area for 12 days using a helicopter, drones and dogs.
To the family’s dismay the full search was suspended on June 29.
Jay’s dad Warren Slater, 58, and brother Zak, 24, continued to scour the area most days.
But the investigation continued in private as Spanish police feared amateur sleuths would hinder the probe.
Social media was rife with armchair detectives peddling vile conspiracy theories and hounding Jay’s devastated family.
Some amateur sleuths even took it upon themselves to fly to the island in a bid to crack the case themselves.
It fuelled cops to keep their work even more private as they refused to add to the “circus” caused by trolls and wannabe sleuths, police sources say.
The source told The Sun: “For many of the officers in Tenerife, they’d never dealt with a missing persons’ case like this.
“There were so many armchair detectives offering theories, and people arriving on the Island who said they could solve the mystery.
“They had no interest in feeding that.”
Jay’s heartbroken friend Lucy, 18, today said she is “lost for words” as she paid an emotional tribute to her pal.
In a heartbreaking Instagram post, Lucy, who was one of the last people to speak to Jay, 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.”
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”.