Bored Panda works better on our iPhone app
Continue in app Continue in browser

Add post form topAdd Post
Tooltip close

The Bored Panda iOS app is live! Fight boredom with iPhones and iPads here.

Body Found In Search For Jay Slater, Teen Who Vanished Four Weeks Ago In Spain
462

Body Found In Search For Jay Slater, Teen Who Vanished Four Weeks Ago In Spain

ADVERTISEMENT

What is presumed to be the lifeless body of 19-year-old Jay Slater, who has been missing since June 17, was found on Monday (July 15). Rescue workers searching for the missing British teenager in Tenerife, Spain, have been trying to identify him, Spanish police told Sky News on Monday.

In a statement, Spain’s national police force, the Guardia Civil, said rescuers had found remains.

Highlights
  • The body of 19-year-old Jay Slater, missing since June 17, was found on July 15 in Tenerife, Spain.
  • Jay, an apprentice bricklayer from Lancashire, UK, vanished after attending the NRG music festival in mid-June.
  • Spanish police believe Jay may have died from an accidental fall in the rugged and remote area of Masca.

As per The Guardian, the statement read: “Civil Guard agents belonging to Mountain Rescue and Intervention Group located in this morning the lifeless body of a young man in the Masca area, belonging to the municipality of Buenavista del Norte.”

It went on to suggest that the person “could have died due to [an] accidental fall on the cliff and [the] inaccessible area where [the body] had been found.”

RELATED:

    What is presumed to be the lifeless body of 19-year-old Jay Slater, who has been missing since June 17, was found on Monday (July 15)

    Image credits: Sky News

    Spanish police said that for 29 days, they reportedly had run a “constant search carried out by different units of the Guardia Civil, in which they have not stopped to look for the young man every day in the area of ​​Masca.”

    Parts of the countryside were “preserved” so they were “not filled with curious onlookers,” Sky News reported.

    Officers further explained: “All indications indicate that it could be the young British man who has been missing since June 17 – in the absence of full identification.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    “The first investigations reveal he could have suffered an accident fall in the inaccessible area where he was found.

    “We are awaiting the results of the autopsy.”

    Image credits: Debbie Duncan

    Canarias Radio reported the Civil Guard had found a body in the village of Masca. The station posted on X (formerly known as Twitter): “All indications point to it being Jay Slater, the young British man who disappeared on 17 June in Tenerife.

    “The first investigations point to an accident or fall in the area.”

    Jay, who was an apprentice bricklayer from Lancashire, UK, went missing last month after attending the NRG music festival on the Canary’s largest islands in the tourist hotspot of Playa de Las Americas.

    He flew out to Tenerife with friends on 13 June to attend the music festival held at the Papagayo nightclub three days later.

    Rescue workers searching for the missing British teenager in Tenerife, Spain, have been trying to identify him, Spanish police said

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Image credits: Sky News

    According to Sky News, the teenager was last heard from after setting off to walk from a northern area of the island back to his holiday accommodation in the south — a journey of about 11 hours.

    At 8:30 am on 17 June, Jay had reportedly called his friend Lucy Law, telling her he had missed a bus, his phone battery was on 1%, and he had cut his leg on a cactus.

    He was last seen walking alone in the Rural de Teno National Park, a rugged and remote area on the opposite side of the island to the holiday resort where he had been staying with friends.

    LBT Global announced on Monday that it was “saddened to announce that a body found in Tenerife does look to be that of Jay Slater.”

    Image credits: Europa Press Canarias

    The charity’s official statement read: “It is understood the body was found close to the site of his mobile phone’s last location.

    “Although formal identification is yet to be carried out, the body was found with Mr Slater’s possessions and clothes. A post-mortem and forensic inquiries will follow.”

    ADVERTISEMENT

    On Sunday (July 14), Jay’s mother, Debbie Duncan, issued a statement through the British overseas missing persons charity, LBT Global, saying the family “cannot put into words” the heartache they have been through, 

    She said her son was “loved by everyone and has a close bond with his family and many, many friends.”

    Debbie described her boy as a “loving son, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin, and friend to so many.”

    In a statement, Spain’s national police force, the Guardia Civil, said rescuers had found remains

    Image credits: Debbie Duncan

    She also said that certain comments online were “very distressing for [them] to read,” adding: “We are aware of the awful comments and conspiracy theories that are filling social media.

    “These theories are hindering the people trying to help us in their investigations here in Tenerife and are vile to see as a family.”

    Since he went missing, several groups on social media discussing Jay’s disappearance were unveiled, such as the “Jay Slater Discussions And Theories” Facebook group, which amassed nearly 283,000 members.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    On Monday, a statement released by the curator of the “Jay Slater missing updates” Facebook group read: “It is with profound sadness that we inform you that Spanish authorities have located a body in the Masca region, which they believe to be that of Jay Slater, who has been missing.”

    Jay, who was an apprentice bricklayer from Lancashire, UK, went missing last month after attending the NRG music festival

    Image credits: James Manning/PA Images

    “We understand that this news is deeply distressing, and our hearts go out to Jay’s family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.

    “Please know that our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with them as they navigate through this tragic loss. 

    “We extend our heartfelt condolences and stand with them in their grief.”

    Other questionable Facebook groups invited members of the public to share their theories about Jay’s fate, such as a man who shared the following on Thursday (July 11) via the “Jay Slater – The truth” community: “Am in Tenerife for holiday and visited a few cemeteries including the one at Sad Hill. 

    ADVERTISEMENT

    “I noticed some freshly dug graves marked ‘unknown’ and think these definitely need to be checked.”

    “So sad to loose [sic] such a young person,” a reader commented

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    Ic_polls

    Poll Question

    Thanks! Check out the results:

    Share on Facebook
    Andréa Oldereide

    Andréa Oldereide

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    Read more »

    I’m a journalist who works as Bored Panda’s News Team's Senior Writer. The news team produces stories focused on pop culture. Whenever I get the opportunity and the time, I investigate and produce my own exclusive stories, where I get to explore a wider range of topics. Some examples include: “Doberman Tobias the viral medical service dog” and “The lawyer who brought rare uterine cancer that affects 9/11 victims to light”. You've got a tip? email me: andrea.o@boredpanda.com

    Read less »
    Andréa Oldereide

    Andréa Oldereide

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    I’m a journalist who works as Bored Panda’s News Team's Senior Writer. The news team produces stories focused on pop culture. Whenever I get the opportunity and the time, I investigate and produce my own exclusive stories, where I get to explore a wider range of topics. Some examples include: “Doberman Tobias the viral medical service dog” and “The lawyer who brought rare uterine cancer that affects 9/11 victims to light”. You've got a tip? email me: andrea.o@boredpanda.com

    Karina Babenok

    Karina Babenok

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    Read more »

    As a visual editor in the News team, I look for the most interesting pictures and comments to make each post interesting and informative through images, so that you aren't reading only blocks of text. I joined Bored Panda not that long ago, but in this short amount of time I have covered a wide range of topics: from true crime to Taylor Swift memes (my search history is very questionable because of that).In my freetime, I enjoy spending time at the gym, gaming, binging Great British Bake Off and adding yet another tattoo artist that I would love to get a tattoo from to my pinterest board.

    Read less »

    Karina Babenok

    Karina Babenok

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    As a visual editor in the News team, I look for the most interesting pictures and comments to make each post interesting and informative through images, so that you aren't reading only blocks of text. I joined Bored Panda not that long ago, but in this short amount of time I have covered a wide range of topics: from true crime to Taylor Swift memes (my search history is very questionable because of that).In my freetime, I enjoy spending time at the gym, gaming, binging Great British Bake Off and adding yet another tattoo artist that I would love to get a tattoo from to my pinterest board.

    What do you think ?
    Add photo comments
    POST
    María Hermida
    Community Member
    5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Very sad ending to what should have been a wonderful time with friends. At least, he was found, and his family can cry for him and mourn. I can't imagine a worst nightmare than not knowing what happened. It's a rough area, and sometimes people do not stop to think nature can be deadly. By the way, BP, the Guardia Civil is NOT the Spanish police force. The police is one thing and the Guardia Civil is a different corps, with specific functions. Please, check your facts before publishing.

    Emma S
    Community Member
    5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I've suspected all along that he was dead so I can't say I'm suprised if it is him. It's very difficult these days to vanish without leaving some trace. Regardless of what he may have done three years ago, he was someone's son and brother, so I sympathise with his family.

    María Hermida
    Community Member
    5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Depends... There are some rough areas full of crevices and sharp, steep slopes. A person can easily fall into a hole in the rocks and never be found again.

    Load More Replies...
    Pyla
    Community Member
    5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Why do people hate on this kid so much? I wonder if he was killed and robbed. It's a real shame that the hate has been so prevalent.

    G A
    Community Member
    5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Because he staved someone's head in with an axe and laughed in court when he was being sentenced. This whole business sounds fishy, and smacks of a d***s deal gone wrong.

    Load More Replies...
    Load More Comments
    María Hermida
    Community Member
    5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Very sad ending to what should have been a wonderful time with friends. At least, he was found, and his family can cry for him and mourn. I can't imagine a worst nightmare than not knowing what happened. It's a rough area, and sometimes people do not stop to think nature can be deadly. By the way, BP, the Guardia Civil is NOT the Spanish police force. The police is one thing and the Guardia Civil is a different corps, with specific functions. Please, check your facts before publishing.

    Emma S
    Community Member
    5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I've suspected all along that he was dead so I can't say I'm suprised if it is him. It's very difficult these days to vanish without leaving some trace. Regardless of what he may have done three years ago, he was someone's son and brother, so I sympathise with his family.

    María Hermida
    Community Member
    5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Depends... There are some rough areas full of crevices and sharp, steep slopes. A person can easily fall into a hole in the rocks and never be found again.

    Load More Replies...
    Pyla
    Community Member
    5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Why do people hate on this kid so much? I wonder if he was killed and robbed. It's a real shame that the hate has been so prevalent.

    G A
    Community Member
    5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Because he staved someone's head in with an axe and laughed in court when he was being sentenced. This whole business sounds fishy, and smacks of a d***s deal gone wrong.

    Load More Replies...
    Load More Comments
    You May Like
    Related on Bored Panda
    Related on Bored Panda
    Trending on Bored Panda
    Also on Bored Panda