Jay Slater's friend who was with him in Tenerife has paid tribute to the teenager after a body was discovered in the monthlong search for him.
After an agonizing four-week search, Spanish authorities announced a heartbreaking development in the case of Jay Slater, the 19-year-old British teenager who disappeared in Tenerife.
On Monday (July 15), human remains were discovered in the rugged terrain near Masca, close to where Jay was last seen.
While formal identification is pending, the Civil Guard believes strongly that the body found is likely Jay's, suggesting he may have experienced a tragic accident or fall in the area.
Jay's close friend Brad Hargreaves has since expressed profound grief in an emotional tribute on Instagram.
"No words. Nothing be the same without you Rest easy brother love you always," Brad wrote alongside a poignant photograph of the two friends, punctuated with broken heart emojis.
The disappearance of Jay Slater on June 17 triggered an extensive search and rescue operation across the challenging landscape of the Rural de Teno national park in Masca.
The efforts spanned nearly two weeks as Spanish authorities combed the area, driven by the urgency to find Jay and uncover any clues to his whereabouts.
Following the discovery of human remains, the British overseas missing persons charity LBT Global issued a statement confirming their involvement in supporting Jay's devastated family.
The charity indicated that Jay's belongings and clothing were found alongside the body, although formal identification and further forensic procedures are yet to be conducted.
"LBT Global is saddened to announce that a body found in Tenerife does look to be that of Jay Slater," the charity stated. "A post mortem and forensic enquiries will follow."
The Civil Guard of Tenerife also provided an update on the discovery, acknowledging the exhaustive search efforts that led to the tragic finding.
"After 29 constant days of searching, the lifeless body of the young man has been found in the Masca area," a spokesman noted. "Everything is pointing to the body being that of the young British man who disappeared on June 17, pending full identification. Initial inquiries are pointing to him having suffered an accident or fall in the area where he was found."
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As Jay Slater's family and friends come to terms with this devastating news, there has been an outpouring of support and condolences from the community, reflecting on Jay's life and the impact he had on those who knew him.
The investigation into the circumstances surrounding Jay Slater's disappearance and the tragic discovery continues, with authorities focused on providing closure to his family and understanding the events leading to this heartbreaking outcome.
