Jay Slater’s mother gives update as search continues for missing teenager

Jay Slater’s mother has given an update via a £35,000 fundraising page set up to help the search for the missing teenager.

Debbie Duncan, posting on the GoFundMe page “Get Jay Slater home”, said the family were working with the crowdfunding platform to withdraw some of the money.

She said the money would be used to help cover accommodation and food expenses while the family are out in Tenerife helping to search for the 19-year-old.

Ms Duncan also said they were planning to fly others out to the island “so we can support each other during these dark times”.

“It’s difficult to wrap our heads around what is happening right now, but we are not losing hope that we will find Jay and return home together,” she wrote.

“We are currently working with GoFundMe to withdraw part of the funds, which are being safely held.

“I wanted to share that these funds will be used to support the mountain rescue teams who are tirelessly searching for Jay.

“Additionally, since our stay in Tenerife needs to be extended, we will also use the funds to cover accommodation and food expenses.

“I’m surrounded by wonderful people who are by my side, but far from their loved ones, so we’ll also be using part of these funds to fly them to Tenerife so we can support each other during these dark times.”

She also thanked those who had sent “kind messages” and donations, adding: “This means the world to us.”

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Ms Duncan and her son’s friends have been at the centre of conspiracy theories on social media since the teenager disappeared.

The construction company which employs Mr Slater shared a post on Facebook earlier today urging people to stop sending them “cruel” emails and to stop posting theories online.

PH Build Group wrote: “These people are trying to ruin people’s lives and businesses (while) sat behind a screen looking for attention.

“Everyone may have their own theories and feelings but to publicly post them knowing you are going to hurt people is just cruel.

“Jay’s family shouldn’t have to endure this.”

Mr Slater, an apprentice bricklayer, had been holidaying with friends in southern Tenerife before travelling to the northwestern mountain village of Masca with two people he met at the NRG music festival on Sunday 16 June.

The teenager, from Oswaldtwistle near Blackburn in Lancashire, told a friend over the phone at 8:30am the following morning that he was walking back to his holiday accommodation after missing a bus – a journey that would take 11 hours on foot.

He also said he was lost, in need of water, and only had 1% charge on his phone.

The last person to see Mr Slater was Masca resident Ofelia Medina Hernandez who spoke to the teenager on Monday 17 June.

Ms Hernandez said she told him a bus was due at 10am as he seemingly hoped to get back to his accommodation.

However, he set off walking – and she said she later drove past him while he was “walking fast”.