An post-mortem has confirmed {that a} physique discovered by Spanish rescuers in Tenerife on Monday is that of the lacking British teenager Jay Slater.
A courtroom spokesperson has reportedly confirmed that fingerprints taken from the physique matched these of the lacking 19-year-old from Lancashire. He disappeared after attending a music pageant 4 weeks in the past and was final seen strolling alone in a distant space within the north of the island, close to the village of Masca.
The courtroom mentioned accidents on his physique advised his loss of life had been brought on by an unintentional fall. “We have a positive identification and more data, fingerprint tests show that the body is [that] of Jay Slater and that the death was caused by trauma consistent with a fall in a rocky area,” a press release by the excessive courtroom of justice within the Canary Islands mentioned.
Slater’s mom, Debbie Duncan, mentioned in a press release that affirmation of his loss of life was the “worst news”. “I just can’t believe this could happen to my beautiful boy,” she mentioned. “Our hearts are broken.”
Slater had been staying with a bunch of buddies on the coast and had attended the NRG music pageant within the close by resort of Playa De Las Americas. He had left the pageant and gone with two males to their Airbnb within the distant Rural de Teno nationwide park, about 11 hours on foot from the place he was staying.
Ofelia Medina Hernandez, whose brother owns the Airbnb, mentioned he had requested her about bus instances and he or she later noticed him strolling uphill in the other way to Los Cristianos, the place he had rented an residence. “It’s dangerous walking around here, it’s easy to lose yourself,” she mentioned. “He walked along the road when I saw him for the last time, up there … He was there alone. He was walking normally, though fast, a little fast.”
Slater phoned a pal, Lucy Regulation – who had attended the pageant however left earlier than him – at about 8.30am on 17 June, saying he was misplaced, thirsty and his cellphone battery was on 1%.
Reacting to the information that the physique discovered was Slater’s, Regulation posted on Instagram: “Honestly lost for words. Always the happiest and most smiley person in the room, you was one of a kind Jay and you’ll be missed more than you know.”
“I’m sure you’ll ‘have your dancing shoes polished and ready’ waiting for us all,” she added. “We all love you buddy. Fly high.”
The Guardia Civil mentioned considered one of its mountain rescue groups had discovered Slater’s physique whereas finishing up a search on the bottom, 4 weeks to the day for the reason that teenager went lacking.
A search operation had been launched after he was reported lacking, with canines, helicopters and drones employed to assist search the rugged terrain. It was scaled down after two weeks, however had continued, with volunteer search specialists from each Spain and the UK becoming a member of the efforts. “It’s so big [here] that it’s very difficult to search in such a steep area. But we’re doing everything we can,” one member of the Spanish rescue crew had informed the Guardian. He mentioned it was a “very difficult area to search”, with cliffs, ravines and vegetation.
Tenerife’s El Día newspaper reported that the terrain the place the physique was discovered was so inaccessible {that a} helicopter had for use to get better it. On Tuesday, rescue groups continued to comb the thick undergrowth to make sure nothing had been missed.
Matthew Searle, from the British abroad lacking particular person charity LBT International, mentioned it was working with Slater’s household on the subsequent steps, which would come with recovering his belongings and repatriating his physique.
He mentioned additional particulars about journey plans and funeral preparations wouldn’t be launched at this stage and requested for privateness for Slater’s household. He additionally known as for an finish to “hurtful comments on social media and elsewhere”, referring to conspiracy theories which have unfold quickly on-line since Slater’s disappearance.
