Jay Slater’s family vow to give teen ‘send off he deserves’ at funeral today as mourners to wear blue & bring roses
JAY Slater’s heartbroken family and friends are today gathering for the teenager’s funeral.
The 19-year-old’s body was found 29 days after he fell to his death in a mountainous region of Tenerife on June 17.
Devastated mum Debbie Duncan, 55, has promised to give her beloved son the “send off he deserves”.
Jay’s grief-stricken family have invited his loved ones to wear something blue to this morning’s funeral.
The sombre gathering will be taking place at Accrington Cemetery in Lancashire, close to Jay’s hometown of Oswaldtwistle.
Mourners have been asked not to bring bouquets, but are welcome to “bring a single rose to place with Jay”.
In an emotional tribute, Jay’s family described the football-mad apprentice bricklayer as a “loving son”.
It read: “At the young age of five Jay started playing football for Huncoat United FC until the age of 17 and also did a few seasons with the Sunday team at St Joesph’s too.
“He also loved spending time chilling out with his friends.
“Jay’s love of music and dance started at a very young age.
“He loved attending music festivals and events across the country and also loved to socialise and meet new people.
“Jay will be very sadly missed by all those who knew him.”
The cost of Jay’s funeral is being covered by donations to a GoFundMe page set up by Jay’s friend Lucy Law after he vanished.
Well-wishers raised more than £70,000 to support the teen’s family.
They have requested donations be made to LBT Global, a charity that supports the families of Brits who go missing abroad, instead of flowers being bought.
Tragic Jay vanished on the morning of June 17 while on holiday on the Canary Island with two friends, Lucy and Brad Hargreaves.
He had travelled to an Airbnb in the remote Masca village with two men after leaving a music festival at a nightclub almost an hour’s drive away.
Later that morning he called Lucy to say he was thirsty, lost and almost had on per cent phone battery.
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 spent almost two weeks combing the vast area with drones, helicopters and sniffer dogs before turning to a private search.
Jay’s desperate dad Warren, 58, and brother Zak, 24, also kept up the hunt – retracing Jay’s steps almost every day in the blistering heat.
After 29 days, Jay’s body was found on July 15 deep in a ravine close to where his phone last pinged a phone tower.
Dramatic images showed the moment a helicopter crewman was winched into the chasm with his arms aloft in the delicate recovery operation.
A post mortem conducted in the UK confirmed that Jay died because of traumatic head injuries, consistent with a “fall from height”.
The coroner’s report said his death would have been instant.
After Jay’s body was found, his distraught family left touching tributes close to the ravine.
Gut-wrenching handwritten notes from his mum, dad and brother were left alongside blue and white flowers, as well as a teddy bear.
A message from mum Debbie read: “To my beautiful boy.
“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.”
Dad Warren’s note said: “To my boy. Love dad.”
Zak promised to take care of his parents in a moving message.
He wrote: “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 your partying up there with grandad. Hope to see you again some day. Rest easy bro. I love you.”