Jay Slater's mother describes 'agony' as search fails to find her son

Lina Portman2 days ago

0 2 minutes read

Image source, Document to distribute to families

Legend, Jay Slater with his mother before her disappearance

Author, Stewart Whittingham and PA Media
Role, BBC News, Lancashire
8 hours ago

The mother of missing teenager Jay Slater has spoken of her “pain and agony” after searches failed to find her son in Tenerife.

The 19-year-old from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, has been missing since June 17 after telling a friend he was lost in the mountains.

His mother, Debbie Duncan, thanked the police officers who she said “worked tirelessly in the mountains where Jay's last phone call was traced.”

Legend, Ms Duncan said Spanish police were working around the clock to find her son.

In a statement released by the UK charity for missing people abroad LBT Global, Ms Duncan said: “We are a very close family and are absolutely devastated by his loss.

“Words cannot describe the pain and agony we are experiencing.

“He’s our beautiful boy with his whole life ahead of him and we just want him back.”

Mr Slater travelled to the holiday island on June 13 to attend the NRG music festival with two friends before he disappeared.

It was the teenager's first holiday abroad without his parents.

He disappeared after setting off on foot to return to his accommodation on the holiday island after checking into an Airbnb with two friends he had met at the event.

Helicopters, drones and search dogs were deployed to find the apprentice mason, but to no avail.

His last known location was the Teno Rural Park in the north of the Canary Islands, about an 11-hour walk from his home.

Ms Duncan said of the police: “They conducted a land search for 12 days, using every resource they had.

“Although the search for the land has been completed, the Spanish police are still investigating why Jay went to a place so far from his home.

“We extend our sincere thanks to the Spanish authorities who continue to follow up on the leads in the investigation.”

On Friday, the Civil Guard had called on volunteer associations, such as firefighters and individual volunteers with expertise in rough terrain, to participate in a “busqueda masiva” (massive search) on Saturday.

The search in the village of Masca, near his last known location, focused on a rocky and steep area, including ravines, trails and paths.

Two men who allegedly rented the Airbnb in Masca, where Jay had gone after the festival, were later deemed “irrelevant” in the case, according to reports.