Following the discovery of human remains in the search for Jay Slater, it has been reported that a body has been found just "20 minutes away" from where the teen's phone last pinged.
Jay, 19, went missing on June 17 in Tenerife, the morning after attending the NRG musical festival with his friends.
Instead of heading back to his accommodation that night with friends Lucy Mae Law and Brad Hargreaves, Jay went on a car journey to a remote part of the island with two men he had met several days prior on the island.
The apprentice bricklayer from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, was last seen by a cafe owner in the village of Masca.
According to her account, the teenager had inquired about bus schedules but opted not to wait for a service that would arrive in two hours. After making this decision, he was seen walking out of the village.
His last phone call was with his friend Lucy Mae Law, where he explained that he was thirsty, his phone battery was on one percent, and that he was going to walk the 10-hour journey back to their accommodation.
The search for the 19-year-old went on for just shy of a month, as sadly, human remains were discovered on July 15.
As reported by Sky News, the remains were discovered in an area where the teenager went missing.
The last signal from his phone was detected in the Rural de Teno National Park, and the discovery was made just a "20-minute walk away" from this location, The Mirror reports.
According to the publication, mountain rescue experts airlifted the body from a steep ravine near Masca village in Tenerife.
The rescue team had to navigate what they described as “treacherous and dangerous” terrain.
Although official identification is pending, a spokesperson for Lancashire police stated: “The indications are that this is Jay Slater” following communication with the Spanish Guardia Civil.
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Mark Williams-Thomas, an investigative journalist and former police officer who has been assisting Jay’s family in the search, told the Mirror the body was found close to where Jay’s phone last pinged on June 17.
“The area where Jay’s body was found was highlighted yesterday afternoon with the search and rescue helicopter in the area. It is around a 20-minute walk from the pin drop location,” Williams-Thomas said.
He described the terrain as “rough and hazardous,” noting that a slip or loss of footing in the area could be fatal.
“Having now seen the video of the search team on Monday morning, and that the helicopter was in the same area on Sunday afternoon where [what is believed to be] Jay's body was recovered, it is clear to see just how treacherous and dangerous it is,” he went on.
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LBT Global, a British overseas missing persons charity, expressed their condolences: "LBT Global is saddened to announce that a body found in Tenerife does look to be that of Jay Slater. It is understood the body was found close to the site of his mobile phone’s last location.
"Although formal identification is yet to be carried out, the body was found with Mr. Slater’s possessions and clothes. LBT Global are supporting the family at this distressing time and ask for everyone to afford them space and privacy to come to terms with the news."
