Jay Slater 'was coming home to major life event' explains devastated mum

Nineteen-year-old Jay Slater was about to come back home to the UK to take his driving test, his heartbroken mum Debbie has revealed.

The young man went missing in Tenerife's rural Parc de Teno on June 17, after he trekked back to the isolated village of Masca with two men he'd met during a night out. After an exhaustive four-week search, the efforts ended in sorrow on the 29th day.

The apprentice bricklayer from the north of the UK had set up his driving test and was looking forward to getting on the road after months of preparation, said mother Debbie Duncan. She emphasized that the optimistic young man had everything to live for, with promising career prospects halted brutally short by the tragic events of this summer.

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The grieving 56-year-old reflected: "Jay was 19 with the world at his feet. He was coming back to a good job and was about to take his driving test. He was just a lovely boy with a massive personality and everybody just loved Jay being in his company - family, friends and work."

Before Jay vanished, he had been enjoying the NRG music festival over three days and decided to continue the celebration with two British acquaintances from the Canary Island, the Sun newspaper notes. His last known location was their Airbnb accommodation in Masca early on June 17, which triggered a search that eventually found him weeks later, reports the Mirror .

A post-mortem examination later found his death was instantaneous, and injuries were consistent with a fall, which he suffered in the treacherous Masca village - with Spanish police suggesting he had fallen from a height in the difficult terrain he was walking through.

Hundreds attended a "celebration of his life on August 10 in Accrington, Lancashire - near his hometown of Oswaldtwistle - to pay tribute to Jay. His family has now asked if well-wishers could put their money towards donations to LBT Global - the charity that supported search efforts - rather than sending flowers.

A tribute released by his family ahead of the funeral reads: "A loving son of Debbie and Warren, a cherished brother of Zak and brother-in-law of Jessica, a treasured grandson of Dawn, June and the late Dougie, a much-loved nephew of Glen and Katie, a dear cousin of Maddie and Tillie and a loyal friend to many. Jay will be very sadly missed by all those who knew him."

The family said: "After Jay left Rhyddings High School he went on to become an apprentice bricklayer with the PH Build group, a job he greatly enjoyed. At the young age of five Jay started playing football for Huncoat United FC until the age of 17 and also did a few seasons with the Sunday team at St Joseph's too.

"He also loved spending time chilling out with his friends. ".