Father in 'hell' as search for teenager in Tenerife enters second week

GoFundMe page

Jay's mother Debbie Duncan, 55, thanked donors on Monday as a GoFundMe page called 'Get Jay Slater home' raised more than £34,000.

‌She wrote on the page: “We have not yet withdrawn any funds and are currently covering expenses ourselves, such as travel to Tenerife and accommodation.

‌ “Funds will remain on hold with GoFundMe until we post a new update on this page. [on GoFundMe]. We are extremely concerned and are doing everything we can to find Jay.

“Please continue to share our fundraiser everywhere. Your support matters to us and we are grateful for any help you can give us.

Meanwhile, the construction company which employs Mr Slater said he had been misrepresented online, with conspiracy theories posted on a Facebook group. Some speculated that Mr Slater had been kidnapped, while others suggested he was in hiding.

PH Build, which employs him as an apprentice mason, said: “Jay has been with us since he left school and is well-liked by everyone. He is a valued member of our team and we are at his side.

“The image people give of him is simply not true. The fact is that he is a 19-year-old missing in a foreign country. He needs to go home, where he belongs. Come on Jay, we're all praying for you.