Rescuers searching for missing British teenager Jay Slater in Tenerife have found a body and are trying to identify him, Spanish police told Sky News.
“The evidence strongly suggests” the remains are those of the 19-year-old, officials added.
The body “appears to be that of Jay Slater,” said LBT Global, a British charity for missing people abroad that has been working with the Slater family.
It added in a statement: “It is understood that the body was found close to the scene of the crime. [Jay Slater’s] last location of the cell phone.
“Although formal identification has not yet been carried out, the body was found with Mr Slater’s belongings and clothing.
“An autopsy and forensic investigations will follow.”
Follow live: the latest updates from Jay Slater
Police said in a statement that the Civil Guard mountain rescue group located the “lifeless body of a young man in the Masca area, after 29 days of constant searches.”
They added: “Given the complexity of the case, the discovery was possible thanks to the incessant and discreet search carried out by the Civil Guard during these 29 days.”
Parts of the field were “preserved” so that they “wouldn’t be crowded with onlookers.”
Officers continued: “All indications are that this could be the young British man who has been missing since June 17th – in the absence of full identification.
“First investigations reveal that he could have suffered an accidental fall in the inaccessible area where he was found.
“We are awaiting the results of the autopsy.”
“Jay’s family never gave up hope,” said Sky News correspondent Shingi Mararike, who reported from Tenerife.
He added: “They remained in Tenerife throughout the month the searches were taking place and they themselves tried to contribute to the search effort.
“I spoke to his father, Warren, on several occasions as he went to the area, as he tried to retrace Jay’s steps, and he was devastated.
“And what we have now is potentially news that they really didn’t want to hear.”
June: Jay Slater’s father speaks out
Slater was last heard from after walking from an area in the north of the island back to his holiday accommodation in the south – a journey of around 11 hours.
He flew to the Spanish island with friends on June 13 to attend a music festival at Papagayo nightclub in the southern resort of Playa de las Americas three days later.
At 8:30am on June 17, he called his friend Lucy Law, saying he had missed a bus, his phone battery was at 1% and he had cut his leg on a cactus.
The area of Tenerife that was surveyed
On Sunday, his mother, Debbie Duncan, said the family “I can’t put it into words” the headache they went through.
She said her son was “loved by everyone and has a close bond with his family and many, many friends.”
Duncan described his son as a “loving son, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin and friend to so many.”
She also said that certain online comments were “very distressing for all of us to read.”
Duncan added: “We are aware of the horrible comments and conspiracy theories that are filling social media.
“These theories are hindering people trying to help us with their investigations here in Tenerife and are vile to be seen as family.”
This story originally appeared on News.sky.com read the full story
