Jay Slater’s family have shared a touching obituary ahead of the “beloved” teenager’s funeral this weekend.
Jay, 19, died on holiday in Tenerife when he fell into a treacherous ravine while attempting an 11-hour walk back to his accommodation alone.
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Jay’s family returned to the UK last week, the same day his body was repatriated.
Now they have released an emotional obituary, saying: “Jay will be greatly missed by all who knew him.”
The tribute adds: “After Jay left Rhyddings High School he became an apprentice bricklayer with the PH Build group, a job he thoroughly enjoyed.
“At the age of five, Jay started playing football for Huncoat United FC until he was 17 and also had a few seasons with St Joesph’s Sunday team.
“He also loved spending time relaxing with friends.
“Jay’s love for music and dance began at a young age.
“He loved attending music festivals and events across the country and also loved socializing and meeting new people.
“A loving son to Debbie and Warren, a dear brother to Zak and brother-in-law to Jessica, a dear grandson to Dawn, June and the late Dougie, a much loved nephew to Glen and Katie, a dear cousin to Maddie and Tillie and a friend loyal to many.”
The family encouraged everyone attending the funeral on Saturday to wear blue and bring family flowers or individual roses.
The service will take place in Accrington Cemetery Chapel, Lancashire, at 10.30am.
Jay’s family has launched another fundraiser through the charity LBT Global, which promises to use the proceeds to support families of missing people.
An LBT press release said the funds will be used to help “combat online trolling and the spread of misinformation targeting victims and families of missing persons, seen at worryingly high levels throughout Jay’s case.”
An original GoFundMe fundraiser organized by Jay’s friend Lucy Mae raised almost £75,000 in donations.
Online bullies criticized Jay’s mother, Debbie Duncan, and other family members for encouraging people to donate.
Family and friends lost contact with Jay, from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, on the morning of 17 June.
He attended the Papagayo Beach Club music festival in southern Tenerife before heading to the mountain village of Masca with two other party-goers.
Jay Slater’s moving obituary
REMEMBERING fondly Jay Dean Slater, of Fountains Way, Oswaldtwistle, who passed away unexpectedly on Monday 17th June 2024 whilst on holiday in Tenerife, aged 19.
After Jay left Rhyddings High School he became an apprentice bricklayer with the PH Build group, a job he thoroughly enjoyed.
At the age of 5, Jay started playing football for Huncoat United FC until he was 17 and also had a few seasons with St Joesph’s Sunday team.
He also loved spending time relaxing with his friends.
Jay’s love for music and dance began at a young age. He loved attending music festivals and events across the country and also loved socializing and meeting new people.
A loving son to Debbie and Warren, a dear brother to Zak and brother-in-law to Jessica, a dear grandson to Dawn, June and the late Dougie, a much loved nephew to Glen and Katie, a dear cousin to Maddie and Tillie and a loyal friend For many. Jay will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
A celebration of life service will be held at 10.30am on Saturday 10 August 2024 in Accrington Cemetery Chapel prior to burial.
Participants are asked to wear something blue in his memory.
Only flowers for the family please, but if anyone would like to bring a single rose to Jay’s house they would be more than welcome.
The next morning he called his friend Lucy, saying he was “lost”, had no water and that his phone was about to die.
He was never heard from again.
Jay’s father Warren and brother Zak spent weeks searching the unforgiving terrain for any sign of their beloved teenager.
Spanish police suspended the search, but Jay’s family retraced their steps in the scorching heat for days on their own.
Local police found Jay’s body almost a month after his disappearance on July 15.
An autopsy in the United Kingdom confirmed he died from traumatic head injuries consistent with a fall from a height.
Timeline of the tragic case
The grim discovery of a body comes after weeks of agony for Jay’s friends and family. Here’s how events unfolded
Sunday, June 16th: Jay and his friends party on the last day of the NRG music festival, held at Papagayo nightclub in Playa de la Americas, Tenerife.
June 17th, from 3am to 6am: Jay leaves with Ayub Qassim and another man to a £40-a-night Airbnb 23 miles away in the village of Masca.
7:30 am: Jay shares a photo on Snapchat standing in the doorway of the Airbnb.
8:50 am: He calls his friend Lucy Mae Law and says he is “lost in the middle of nowhere,” with no water, a cut on his leg and a percent on the phone.
Tuesday, June 18: Friend search area, but no sign of Jay. Local police and mountain rescue teams begin official searches. Jay’s mother, Debbie Duncan, flies to Tenerife.
June 19th to 20th: The Spanish police use drones, dogs and a helicopter, but find no traces. The search continues to Los Cristianos amid a possible sighting, but it is ruled out and they return to Rural de Teno, near Masca.
June 21th: Lancashire Police offers support, but it is refused.
June 22: Mom Debbie makes an emotional plea to Jay, saying “We just need you home.”
June 24th: Jay is alleged to have been sighted in Santiago del Teide – close to where he disappeared – and the family believe a grainy CCTV image could be of him.
June 25th: Debbie asks her son to return home while more friends travel and TV investigator Mark Williams-Thomas joins the search.
June 29: The police remove Mr. Qassim and another man from the Airbnb from the investigation.
June 30: Spanish police officially suspend the hunt, but say the investigation “remains open”. His family continues to search.
July 15: A body is found by the helicopter search team near where his phone last rang. Their belongings are discovered alongside human remains. Spanish police say this points to an “accidental fall”.
Today: Tenerife authorities confirm that the body found in the mountainous area of the island is that of Jay.
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This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
