Jay Slater's heartbroken mum 'overwhelmed' as update given when teen's body can return home
Jay Slater has been formally identified as the body discovered in a ravine in the Masca area of Tenerife on Monday four weeks after he vanished.
Jay Slater's grief-stricken mum is reportedly "overwhelmed" amid a flood of support. Debbie Duncan, 55, emotionally stated her family's "hearts were broken" following the confirmation of her son Jay's identity. His remains were found in a steep gorge in the Masca region of Tenerife on Monday, concluding a harrowing 29-day search.
Charity LBT Global, which supports families with missing loved ones overseas, is currently helping Ms Duncan navigate through this incredibly tough period. Charity chief Matthew Searle expressed gratitude today: "Thank you very much for the thousands of messages of love and support she [Debbie] has received. She is overwhelmed at the moment but will try to reply to them all in due course."
Yet the family is facing a potential delay of over a week before they can repatriate the 19 year old's body home from Tenerife. Mr Searle conveyed his hopes that Debbie would be onboard the same flight returning to the UK.
In a heart-wrenching statement, Debbie 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. I just can't believe this could happen to my beautiful boy. Our hearts are broken," reports the Mirror.
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On Monday, Spanish officials shared footage of the search team deploying a helicopter to lower a rescuer into the "inaccessible" crevice where Jay was found. The bereaved family have paid tribute near the discovery site, leaving behind flowers, a teddy in an England shirt and a red candle jar.
Relatives are meticulously going through paperwork and translations to ensure the repatriation process for their loved one is seamless. Mr Searle remarked: "They can begin to grieve. When you have the discovery, you have a body and you can take it home and you can grieve and then start the process of trying to rebuild your lives."
Back in the UK, friends of Jay paid tribute by releasing scores of blue balloons into the sky at a vigil held in his honour on Tuesday evening in his hometown. The gathering took place at the West End Methodist Church in Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, just before a prayer service dedicated to Jay's memory.
The balloons bore heartfelt messages such as "you'll be missed" and "fly high Jay", along with others that displayed his age, 19.
Pam Kierons, who was Jay's football coach, placed flowers at the church and expressed her deep sorrow: "I'm devastated for the family, devastated for Debbie. The outcome is not what anyone wanted, but at least they can bring his body home. It's disgusting that people have dug into past issues and come up with crazy conspiracy theories. Sadly the most likely thing to have happened has happened."
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