Lancashire Police has issued a statement following the discovery of a body in Tenerife during the search for Jay Slater.
The 19-year-old, hailing from Oswaldtwistle in Lancashire, went missing on the Spanish island on the morning of June 17. Intensive search efforts have been ongoing since then, and today, exactly four weeks later, Spanish authorities announced the discovery of human remains.
The Civil Guard reported that the body was found in the Masca area, the same area where Jay was last seen. While formal identification is pending, authorities stated that all signs point to the body being that of Jay Slater, who they believe may have experienced an accident or fall in the area.
In response to this development, Lancashire Police issued a statement today, expressing their condolences to Jay's family during this difficult time.
.jpeg_TLJ45i?tr=w-1024,cr-0.0.1024.1413&config=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)
A spokesperson for the Lancashire Police said: "We have been informed today (Monday, July 15) by the Guardia Civil that they have located the body of a man, and indications suggest this may be Jay Slater.
"While formal identification has yet to be conducted, our thoughts are with Jay’s family at this time, and we continue to provide them with our support."
Earlier today, a spokesperson for the Civil Guard in Tenerife provided further details, stating: "After 29 days of continuous searching, the lifeless body of the young man was discovered in the Masca area. This discovery was made possible thanks to the persistent and discreet efforts of the Civil Guard over the past 29 days."
(1).jpeg_7eofTs?tr=w-1024,cr-0.0.1024.1475&config=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)
The statement continued: "All evidence points to the body being that of the young British man who went missing on June 17, pending full identification. Initial investigations indicate he may have suffered an accident or fall in the area where he was found."
Yesterday, Jay's mother, Debbie Duncan, issued a poignant statement through the British overseas missing persons charity, LBT Global., describing her son as a beloved and vibrant young man.
"We cannot express the anguish we are experiencing as a family," Debbie said. "Jay is a typical young man who embraces life with a promising future ahead of him. This month marks the completion of his three-year apprenticeship, and he had the world at his feet."
"He is cherished by everyone and has a deep connection with his family and countless friends."
Spanish police told Sky News: "The mountain rescue and intervention group of the Civil Guard has located the lifeless body of a young man in the Masca area after 29 days of constant search.
"Given the complexity of the case, the discovery has been possible thanks to the incessant and discreet search carried out by the Civil Guard during these 29 days, in which the natural space was preserved so that it would not be filled with curious onlookers.
"All indications indicate that it could be the young British man who has been missing since June 17 in the absence of full identification.
"The first investigations reveal that he could have suffered an accident fall in the inaccessible area where he was found. We are awaiting the results of the autopsy."
