Jay Slater 's body was found this week a month after the teen went missing in Tenerife - but the story of his disappearance is far from over.
Jay's remains were found in a Juan Lopez ravine just north of Masca Village, Parque Rural de Teno, Tenerife on July 15 by members of a mountain rescue team from the Spanish Civil Guard after a grueling four-week search.
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A post-mortem conducted two days ago confirmed the remains were those of the missing teen, who was discovered alongside his clothes and personal belongings.
The Spanish Civil Guard has stated that "all evidence suggests" the remains belong to Jay, as some of his clothes and belongings were found nearby. Since the discovery of his body, there have been three significant developments.
1. The search team returning to the scene
A specialist team from Signi Zoekhonden, deployed by Jay's grieving family, has revisited the Juan Lopez ravine, the site where his remains were discovered.
Accompanied by their Belgian Malinois, Flex, the team aimed to gain a comprehensive understanding of the area where Jay was found.
Led by veterinarian Esther van Neerbo, the team is focused on ensuring that no detail is overlooked that might shed light on Jay's death. They also created a short film for Jay’s mother to document the location.
Initial autopsy reports have indicated that the injuries were consistent with a fall from a height, though several questions remain unanswered.
The team leader disclosed that their dog had pinpointed a particularly “challenging and hazardous” section of the ravine, suggesting it would have been "impossible" for Jay to reach the sea from that point.
She is in frequent communication with Jay’s family and described his mother, Debbie, as being "deeply sorrowful, with continuous tears."
Esther added, "Every case is heartbreaking, but it’s especially tough for mothers. It's unimaginable to search for a young child and to lose your son is the worst thing imaginable."
She praised the rescue workers, saying, "They did an excellent job. Jay was very young and managed to get quite far. The area where he was found is a dry, narrow valley that's extremely difficult to access."
2. New GoFundMe appeal
Jay's mother has launched a new appeal on GoFundMe for "additional donations" to cover her teenage son's funeral expenses. The campaign has surpassed its initial goal of £35,000 and is now approaching £65,000.
Debbie Duncan, Jay’s mother, posted on the GoFundMe page: "Hello everyone, thank you for your kindness, support, and condolences following the tragic news of Jay's body being found. We are overwhelmed with grief and deeply grateful for your generosity."
She also expressed gratitude to the Dutch team, Signi Zoekhonden, who have stayed in Spain all week to assist since Jay's discovery. "They will be returning home soon, and we are incredibly thankful for their commitment."
Debbie continued, "We also appreciate LBT Global for their support during this challenging time. We are coordinating with agencies to arrange Jay's repatriation to the UK. Any remaining or future donations will help with this process and cover Jay’s funeral expenses. We want to give our boy the farewell he deserves, so please continue to support and share our fundraiser."
Debbie has faced some backlash on social media following her donation appeal. One user tweeted, "Jay Slater’s mum is ruthless. The GoFundMe is already at £60k, and she’s still asking for more money. Unbelievable."
Another commenter said, "It’s puzzling why she needs additional funds. I’m in need of £10-15k for life-changing surgery and couldn’t bring myself to ask for even a penny, let alone over £60k."
A third user remarked, "While it’s tragic, he doesn’t need an extravagant funeral. It was their responsibility, not the country’s. I hope no one donates another penny."
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3. The wait for Jay's body following the autopsy
A preliminary autopsy has been completed, and the family is now awaiting the return of Jay's body to the UK. The initial findings suggest that his death resulted from "a fall or plunge from height," as indicated by the broken bones.
A Civil Guard spokesperson confirmed, "The body identified as Jay Slater through fingerprint comparison had several broken bones. The preliminary autopsy results suggest that the cause of death was a fall or plunge from a height."
Following the confirmation that the body found in Tenerife on Monday was indeed Jay, his family issued a statement: "We are in shock—waiting with embassy staff for updates, and now we've received the devastating news. It’s hard to believe this could happen to our beautiful boy. Our hearts are utterly broken."
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