Missing British teen’s family ‘broken-hearted’ as Spain confirms Jay Slater’s body found

MADRID – Spanish authorities confirmed on July 16 that a body found in a remote area of the island of Tenerife a day earlier was that of missing British teenager Jay Slater, and his injuries were compatible with those caused by an accidental fall.

“We have a positive ID,” a court spokesperson said.

“Fingerprinting confirms that the body belongs to Jay Slater and the death was due to multiple traumas compatible with a fall in the mountainous area.” 

Earlier, the same spokesperson said it would take some days before autopsy results were available.

Mr Slater’s mother Debbie Duncan issued a statement through the British overseas missing persons charity, LBT Global, acknowledging the “worst news”. 

“I just can’t believe this could happen to my beautiful boy,” the statement read. “Our hearts are broken.”

The body was found on the morning of July 15 by a Civil Guard mountain rescue group.

Mr Slater, 19, went missing on June 17 and his phone was last traced to the Masca ravine in a remote national park on the Canary Islands archipelago.

The remains were found with Mr Slater’s possessions and clothes close to the site of his mobile phone’s last location, LBT Global said on July 15.

Mr Matthew Searle, chief executive of LBT Global, which has issued several statements on behalf of the family, said it would help repatriate Mr Slater’s body and belongings and make funeral arrangements.

“There will, of course, be many more hurdles for the family to face in the coming days, and we will work with them to make this horrific time as easy as possible,” he said. REUTERS