Jay Slater search team deployed by grieving family to find spot where he died after cops ‘refused to reveal location’
JAY Slater’s devastated family today deployed a private search team to find the exact location the teenager’s body was found.
Police on Monday recovered 19-year-old Jay’s body from a treacherous ravine in a remote mountainous region of Tenerife.
Jay’s body revealed that he had suffered multiple injuries consistent with an accidental fall from a considerable height.
But for the family, some questions still remain unanswered.
Dramatic images showed the moment a helicopter crewman was winched into the chasm with his arms aloft in the delicate recovery operation.
Spanish cops did not reveal exactly where Jay’s body was found, and today Jay’s family sent a Dutch search crew into the ravine to find the spot.
Volunteer group Signi Zoekhondon, who are often deployed in the aftermath of natural disasters, flew to the island on Sunday evening, hours before Jay’s body was found the following morning.
But they have remained in Tenerife and are set to return later this week.
They were seen today in a desolate ravine with a sniffer dog, Flex, walking in the blistering heat.
A source revealed they returned on behalf of the family so they could fully understand the geography of where Jay’s body was found.
Veterinarian Esther van Neerbos, who leads the group, revealed dog Flex indicated a particular spot in the ravine which she described as “difficult and dangerous”.
The perilous ravine had extremely steep cliffs both sides, and goes from 20m to 100m wide in places.
Esther said Jay would not have been able to get to the sea from there, as has been claimed, because he would have run into huge cliffs that are near impossible to pass.
She added that she has urged the family not to lay flowers as the exact spot Jay was found as it is too dangerous.
Esther said: “Every case is sad, it’s particularly difficult for mothers, it is never nice to have to search for a young child.
“Losing your boy is the worst thing you can think about.
“I think the rescue workers that found him did a very good job.
“Jay was a very young guy, he did very well to get as far as he got.
“The place where he was found is a very dry, small valley, very difficult to get into.”
Esther, who is in close contact with Jay’s family, said they are “crying, crying, crying”.
Spain’s Guardia Civil repeated to The Sun today that they would not be revealing the exact location where Jay’s body was found.
The deployment of a private search team suggests that Jay’s grieving family were not made aware of the precise spot where his remains were discovered.
Jay’s mum Debbie Duncan said today: “The wonderful team Signi Zoekhondon have remained in Spain all week and have continued to support us since Jay was found.
“They are due to fly home in the coming days and we are so appreciative of their dedication and support.”
It comes as…
- Jay Slater was confirmed dead on Tuesday as body was found in gruelling search on Monday after 4 weeks
- Jay’s mum said ‘our hearts are broken‘ after ‘beautiful’ son’s body is found
- Jay Slater cops revealed his cause of death details after teen suffered ‘broken bones’ from ‘horror fall’
- The body was discovered just yards away from where Jay’s phone last pinged
- Jay’s best pal Lucy Mae Law paid tribute to the ‘happiest person in the room’
- Donations on Jay Slater GoFundMe hit a huge benchmark of £60k
- Jay’s mum Debbie asked people to continue donating so she can give her son “the send-off he deserves”
Devastated mum Debbie, 55, dad Warren Slater and brother Zak meanwhile were in the mountainous region’s gateway town, Santiago del Teide, as the search team scoured the ravine.
Warren, 58, spoke at length to a man in khakis, thought to be from search crew Signi Zoekhondon, outside San Fernando Rey church.
Debbie meanwhile sat on a bench with sunglasses covering her face as Zak stood close by.
The family and a handful of others then headed over to a cafe opposite.
Jay’s loved ones were left heartbroken when police on Monday recovered his body from a treacherous ravine.
After authorities confirmed the ID, Jay’s family left touching tributes in the area the teen is feared to have fallen.
A teddy bear with England flags on and a bracelet with the letter J on were also placed on a rocky track where Jay was last known to be.
Debbie described Jay as her “beautiful boy” in a touching handwritten note.
She wrote: “I’m so sorry we never found you.
“I miss you so much. You will be forever young and forever missed.
“Love you so much.”
Warren left a message that simply read: “To my boy. Love dad.”
Zak promised to take care of their parents, writing: “Love you little bro.
“Never in a million years did I think I’d be doing this.
“I’ll look after Mum and Dad. Hope you’re partying up there with Grandad.
“Hope to see you again some day. Rest easy bro. I love you.”
Grief-stricken Debbie, Warren and Zak, 24, are hoping to go on the same flight – which is expected to be early next week.
Apprentice bricklayer Jay travelled to a remote Airbnb in Masca with two men in the early hours of June 17.
He had been partying all night in Playa de las Americas, close to an hour’s drive away.
In the morning, he attempted the 11 hour walk back to his own accommodation miles away.
Jay made a tragic final phone call to friend Lucy Law to say he was lost, needed water and only had one per cent phone battery.
It was the last time Jay, from Oswaldtwistle, Lancs, was heard from, and a mammoth search mission was launched.
Jay’s dad Warren and brother Zak spent weeks searching the unforgiving terrain for a breakthrough after the teenager vanished on June 17.
They retraced his steps in the blistering heat for days on their own after Spanish cops suspended their search.
But his body was finally discovered by a helicopter crew on Monday at the bottom of a ravine close to where his mobile phone last pinged.
Timeline of Jay Slater's disappearance
The grim discovery of a body came after weeks of agony for Jay’s friends and family. Here is how events unfolded:
June 16: Jay and his friends party on the last day of the NRG music festival at Papagayo nightclub in Playa de la Americas, Tenerife.
June 17th:
- 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 the 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.
June 18: Pals search the area but no sign of Jay. Local cops and mountain rescue teams start the 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 an appeal to Jay saying: “We just need you home.”
June 24: Claims of Jay sighting in Santiago del Teide — near where he disappeared — and family believe a grainy CCTV image could be of him.
June 25: Debbie issues a plea for Jay to come home as more friends fly out and TV investigator Mark Williams-Thomas joins the search.
June 29: Cops rule Mr Qassim, and another man at Airbnb, out of investigation.
June 30: Spanish cops officially suspend hunt but say probe “remains open”. His family continue to search.
July 15: A body is found by a 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”.
July 17: Tenerife authorities confirm the body found in the mountainous area of the island is Jay’s.