Jay Slater updates as Tenerife locals reveal 'what went wrong' after body found

A woman says locals avoid the ravine where Jay Slater's body was found because it's so dangerous.

By Jon King, News Reporter

Jay Slater’s mother 'heartbroken' after court confirms death

Jay Slater's body was discovered in a ravine considered so dangerous by locals that they refuse to go near it.

Helena Gomes, a local from Masca near where Jay, 19, was found, said no one was surprised at how long it took to find the apprentice bricklayer.

She told the Mirror: "You see how bad it is - we don’t even walk there so if someone gets into trouble it is going to be hard for anyone to find the body.

"No one is surprised it took so long, why he was there is a mystery. He should never have been going that way. Maybe he saw the ocean and thought it was the best way."

"We just feel so bad for his family but are so proud of the searchers who found him. They never gave up."

Jay's body was found just yards from his last known location in Parque Rural de Teno in northwest Tenerife on Monday after a search lasting 29 days.

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Jay Slater, with (right) a view of the area where his body was found

A Masca woman has said the ravine where Jay Slater's body was found is avoided by locals (Image: Family handout/Guardia Civil)

Heart-breaking tributes left by Jay Slater's family

Jay Slater's mum, brother and dad have left heart-breaking tributes to the youngster near the place where his body was found.

Mr Slater's mother, Debbie Duncan, wrote: "To my beautiful boy. I'm so sorry we never found you. I miss you so much. You will be forever young and forever missed. Love you so much, Mum".

Brother Zak wrote: "Love you little bro. Never in a million years did I think I'd be doing this. I'll look after mum and dad. Hope you're partying up there with Grandad. Hope to see you again some day. Rest easy bro. I love you. Zak".

And Jay's dad, Warren Slater, wrote: "To my boy. Love Dad, xxx".

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Tributes left to Jay Slater from his mum and brother (Image: Jonathan Buckmaster)

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Jay Slater's dad left a note reading, 'To my boy, love Dad xxx' (Image: Jonathan Buckmaster)

Chance Jay Slater's family walked past body in Tenerife search 'entirely possible'

A source for the family of Jay Slater has suggested the apprentice bricklayer's relatives who helped in the search may have inadvertently walked past the 19-year-old.

They told The Sun: "It hasn’t completely sunk in yet. The hardest thing for her [Jay's mum Debbie Duncan] is to hear he was found so close to the original search site.

"It means it’s entirely possible they have walked past his body while searching for him."

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Mourners lay flowers and release balloons at Jay Slater memorial

Here are a couple more photos from last night's memorial service for Jay Slater in his hometown.

The event was held hours after a Spanish court confirmed a body found in a remote part of Tenerife is that of the 19-year-old.

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A woman lays flowers outside the church in Oswaldtwistle (Image: MEN Media)

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Mourners attend the memorial on Tuesday (Image: MEN Media)

Well-wishers attend emotional memorial service for Jay Slater

Friends and well-wishers gathered last night for a memorial service held for Jay Slater at West End Methodist Church in the 19-year-old's hometown.

Crowds assembled outside the place of worship in Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, to pay their respects.

As part of the memorial, blue balloons were released as supporters comforted one another.

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Friends and well-wishers gathered at West End Methodist Church (Image: MEN Media)

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Balloons were released as part of the memorial event (Image: MEN Media)

Police refuse to say if they've recovered £12k Rolex Jay Slater allegedly 'stole' before death

Spanish police have refused to comment on claims Jay Slater snatched a luxury Rolex watch prior to his untimely death.

TV sleuth Mark Williams-Thomas previously claimed Jay had boasted about snatching a Rolex in a Snapchat video just before he disappeared on June 17.

Tenerife's Guardia Civil told the Mirror: "All the information we're prepared to release at this stage has been put in the public domain.

"Any updates should we decide to publish any more information will be made available through the normal channels."

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Spanish police won't comment on claims a Rolex was stolen (Image: Instagram)

How were officials able to confirm the body is Jay Slater's?

Jay Slater was identified through fingerprints after his remains were discovered in a rugged area near his last known location, the Canary Islands' High Court of Justice has said.

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Charity is helping family to bring Jay Slater's body home

Matthew Searle, from LBT Global, has said the charity has been working with Jay Slater's family to sort out the next steps of taking his body home and the recovery of his belongings.

Jay Slater's devastated mum says 'our hearts are broken'

Jay Slater's mum has said "our hearts are broken" after a Spanish court confirmed his death and said his multiple injuries were consistent with a fall in a rocky area.

In a statement issued through the charity LBT Global, Mr Slater's mother Debbie 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."

She added: "I just can't believe this could happen to my beautiful boy. Our hearts are broken."

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Debbie Duncan says 'hearts are broken' (Image: Family handout)

Jay Slater's story represented 'something very strange' for locals

The manager of a café in Tenerife close to the search scene for missing Jay Slater, has said it came as a shock that the Brit had ended up in the area.

Named only as Elvira by the Manchester Evening News, the café manager told the publication there was "something very strange" in Jay's case - with the police presence and media scrutiny being an unfamiliar sight to the residents of Teno, where search teams have been based.

She said: "It surprised me a lot that Jay ended up here. Very much. It's not normal here. It's something very strange. Having the police here every day over two weeks, and nothing. It's something inexplicable."

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Emergency service workers and vehicles during the search for Jay Slater (Image: PA Images)

Welcome to our blog

Good morning and welcome to the Express's live blog where we'll be bringing you the latest updates following the discovery of Jay Slater's body in Tenerife.

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