The mother of British teenager Jay Slater has appealed for donations to help repatriate his body back to the UK and pay for his funeral costs.
In a statement issued through a GoFundMe page set up by Mr Slater’s family, Debbie Duncan thanked people for their support amid the search for her son in Tenerife and urged them to donate cash to give her son “the send-off he deserves”.
It comes after a Spanish court confirmed that Mr Slater, from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, whose body was found in a ravine in Tenerife on Monday, and said his multiple injuries were consistent with an accidental fall in a rocky area.
Ms Duncan wrote: “Hello everyone, thank you for all of your kindness, support and condolences in light of the tragic news that Jay’s body has been found.
“We are overwhelmed with grief and are so grateful for your support.
“We are working with agencies to arrange Jay’s repatriation to the UK and the remaining funds, along with any future donations will be used to help with this if needed and to pay for Jay’s funeral costs back home.
“We want to give our boy the send-off he deserves so please do continue to share and support our fundraiser however you can.”
The Canary Islands High Court of Justice confirmed the identity of the body with the use of fingerprint technology after the remains were found near the village of Masca in Tenerife on Monday.
The Spanish Civil Guard said Mr Slater could have fallen in the steep and inaccessible area where he was discovered.
British missing persons organisation LBT Global said the body had been found with Mr Slater’s “possessions and clothes”.
The search in Masca had been taking place in a steep rocky area, including ravines, trails and paths.
Lancashire Police said in a statement: “We have today [Monday] been notified by the Guardia Civil that they have found the body of a man and that the indications are that this is Jay Slater.
“While at this stage no formal identification has been carried out, our thoughts are very much with Jay’s family at this time, and we continue to offer them our support.”
Mr Slater, from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, disappeared after setting off to walk back to his accommodation on the Spanish holiday island on 17 June.
He had attended the NRG music festival with two friends before his disappearance, and his last known location was the Rural de Teno Park in the north of the Canary Island – which was about an 11-hour walk from his accommodation.
Mr Slater left with two men he met at an event, before calling his friend Lucy Mae at 8.15am on Monday, telling her he was lost, needed water and only had one per cent of battery life left on his phone.
When his phone cut off, his last location showed he was in Rural de Teno Park, a mountainous area popular with hikers.
