Jay Slater: Mother issues personal message in wake of discovery of teen’s body

Tenerife’s civil guard insists it had continued its search discreetly, despite having publicly called off the search over two weeks ago.

After 13 days of searching, the Spanish authorities called off the search on June 30, but said they were continuing their investigation.

However upon recovering Jay Slater’s body on Monday, they revealed they had indeed continued an “incessant and discreet” search in which the “natural space was preserved so that it would not be filled with curious onlookers”.

Jay Slater’s body should be repatriated to the UK in the coming days, according to a charity supporting his family.

Matthew Searle, chief executive of LBT Global, told The Independent his charity and Mr Slater’s family are “working closely” with Spanish authorities following the autopsy results.

He said: “As the coroner hasn’t found any indication of criminal activity, the body will be released soon and repatriated to the UK. We would expect that to happen in the coming days.”

LBT Global, which has been helping the family of Jay Slater, says it is looking at bringing Jay Slater’s body back to Lancashire.

Chief executive Matthew Searle said he was dealing with “massive paperwork, translations and logistics” in an interview with Sky News.

It’s more than four weeks since the 19-year-old left his home to go on holiday with friends on the Spanish island.

When British teenager Jay Slater vanished in northern Tenerife a little under a month ago, the case captured the attention of the nation.

Helicopters, sniffer dogs and, in the last days of the search, private experts were brought in, in the hope of finding the Lancashire teenager.

The search followed Mr Slater’s last known steps through treacherous valleys and dangerous ravines until a body, thought to be the remains of the 19-year-old, was found after four gruelling weeks.

Work is taking place to repatriate Jay Slater’s body with the family working through documents with help from charity LBT Global.

The teenager’s body was discovered on Monday, and now it’s hoped the family can bring it home to Lancashire for a funeral.

Speaking to the BBC, Matthew Searle, chief executive of LBT Global, said: “There is so much to do, and obviously when you’re in a foreign country, and you don’t speak the language, and you’ve got no-one around you to help really, and you’re in the position that Jay’s parents are in… it’s just not the kind of thing that you cope with, it’s just overwhelming.”

It’s not thought the process will be complete for at least a week.

As we’ve already reported, floral tributes have been left close to the scene of where Jay Slater’s body was discovered.

His mother Debbie Duncan wrote: “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, Mum.”

And a post from his father read: “To my Boy, Love Dad, Always, XXXX.”

The handwritten messages are at a memorial which also includes a teddy bear wearing an England shirt.

Despite the discovery of Jay Slater’s body, questions still remain.

Why was he in the national park?

Why did he choose to walk instead of wait for a bus?

Who were the men he was with?

Here we take a look at the the three questions:

Almost £60,000 has been raised on the GoFundMe page for Jay Slater’s search.

Now his body has been found, the BBC says it understands some of it could be used for repatriation costs.

The family is working through documents to return the teenager’s body home with the help of charity LBT Global.

It’s hoped insurance money will cover the cost of returning Jay’s body home – but the fundraiser proceeds offer another option.

Now the family have the body of Jay Slater, the process of bringing the 19-year-old’s body home has started.

Matthew Searle, boss at charity LBT Global, said his group was helping with documents and translation as part of the repatriation process.

He said, while the family is devastated, the discovery of Jay’s body will bring some closure.

He said: “They can begin to grieve. When you have the discovery, you have a body and you can it take it home and you can grieve and then start the process of trying to rebuild your lives.”

Matthew Searle, chief executive of charity LBT Global, which has been supporting the family, said that while the family had now confirmation over Jay’s death and how he died, there were still some unanswered questions.

He told The Independent that they will still “wonder” why the 19-year-old was in the ravine, off the main road, when he died, and where he was heading to exactly.

They are questions the family may never find out, but they will soon be able to fly his body home for a funeral.