Jay Slater – latest: Family say ‘worst fears realised’ after body of British teenager found in Tenerife

Jay Slater’s body should be repatriated to the UK in the coming days, according to a charity supporting his family.

Matthew Searle, chief executive of LBT Global, told The Independent his charity and Mr Slater’s family are “working closely” with Spanish authorities following the autopsy results.

He said: “As the coroner hasn’t found any indication of criminal activity, the body will be released soon and repatriated to the UK. We would expect that to happen in the coming days.”

A TikToker who answered family pleas to join the hunt for Jay Slater in Tenerife is puzzled by the discovery of his body in an area he believed had been searched thoroughly.

Londoner Callum Fahim scoured the rocky ravines of the Spanish island with a search party just days after the apprentice bricklayer vanished outside a remote Airbnb in Masca.

Mr Fahim spoke to The Independent shortly after a Spanish court said autopsy fingerprinting confirmed the body belongs to the teenager, and said he feared he may have walked past the body “five or six times”.

Matthew Searle MBE, head of the charity LBT Global, was talking to Jay Slater’s mother Debbie Duncan at the time the news of the autopsy confirmation broke, and she and Jay’s family were devastated at the news, the charity said

Ms Duncan said: “I just can’t believe it – we’re here with the Embassy staff waiting for an update and now it’s come – the worst news”.

A family source told The Sun that Jay’s mother Debbie Duncan was completely devastated, saying: “It’s the news they’ve all been dreading. She has a lot of questions which she hopes will be answered in the coming days.

“It hasn’t completely sunk in yet. The hardest thing for her is to hear he was found so close to the original search site. It’s hard to take. It means it’s entirely possible they have walked past his body whilst searching for him.

“It seems incredible so many people walked that area and yet he was so close. As we have seen with mountainous terrain and ravines, it does happen — no matter how hard that is to believe.”

Dozens of balloons have been released in Jay Slater’s hometown as those who knew him held an emotional vigil in memory of the teenager.

Tearful locals comforted each other in Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, on the day authorities in Tenerife confirmed they had found his body in the Rural de Teno park.

While Jay’s mother, Debbie Duncan, and father, Warren Slater, are still on the island as four weeks of gruelling searching come to a close, loved ones in the UK paid tribute.

Jay’s football coach, Pam Kierons, laid flowers in memory of the apprentice bricklayer and told The Mirror: “I’m devastated for the family, devastated for Debbie. The outcome is not what anyone wanted, but at least they can bring his body home.

“It’s disgusting that people have dug into past issues and come up with crazy conspiracy theories. Sadly the most likely thing to have happened has happened.”

Reverend Matt Smith told the paper: “Our thoughts and our prayers are with them. We’re here and supporting them for when they need us.”

Blue ribbons were tied to trees and lamp posts across the area as dozens of blue balloons were released.

Spanish authorities have confirmed that the body found in Tenerife was that of Jay Slater and that the injuries he sustained were compatible with an accidental fall.

“We have a positive ID,” a court spokesperson said. “Fingerprinting confirms that the body belongs to Jay Slater and the death was due to multiple traumas compatible with a fall in the mountainous area.”

Jay Slater’s “devastated” family have said their “worst fears have been realised” after a body found in the search for the missing British teenager has been confirmed as him.

The CEO of the charity LBT Global, which has been supporting Mr Slater’s family during the ordeal, said he was with the teenager’s mother Debbie Duncan, 55, when the “worst news” broke.

Speaking of Mr Slater’s family, Matthew Searle told The Independent: “It’s just the worst news they could possibly expect. There’s always that slim hope until confirmation comes that they’ve got it wrong and it’s someone else, but sadly they haven’t got it wrong and their worst fears have been realised.”

My colleague Tara Cobham has the full report on today’s events:

The headteachers at Jay Slater’s former primary and secondary schools have released new statements following the discovery of his body in Tenerife.

Andrew Williams, of Rhyddings High School, and James McBride of West End Primary School, said all members of their communities sent their deepest sympathies to anyone who knew the 19-year-old.

“As a devoted mother, we know Debbie would have never given up looking for Jay, and she and the family are firmly in our thoughts and prayers at this difficult time,” their statement said.

“We hope that this tragic discovery will not only dispel any rumours, but allow the family to return with their son and afford them the dignity of their private grief and mourning.”

When British teenager Jay Slater vanished in northern Tenerife a month ago, the case captured the attention of the nation.

Tens of thousands of pounds were donated by the public to fund the search, with some even volunteering to fly over to the popular holiday island to assist. Helicopters, sniffer dogs and, in the last days of the search, private experts were brought in, in the hope of finding the Lancashire teenager.

The search followed Mr Slater’s last known steps through treacherous valleys and dangerous ravines until his body was found after four gruelling weeks.

My colleague Alexander Butler has more details: