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16th July 2024
02:22pm BST
The mother of Jay Slater has said the family's "hearts are broken" following the news of his death in Tenerife.
On Tuesday afternoon, authorities confirmed that a body found yesterday was that of the British teenager, who had been missing since June 17.
The Canary Islands Higher Court of Justice confirmed a formal identification of the body had taken place using finger prints, adding that his death was thought to have been caused by "trauma consistent with a fall in a rocky area."
Paying tribute to her son, Debbie Duncan said the confirmation of his death was the "worst news."
She said in a statement: "I just can't believe this could happen to my beautiful boy. Our hearts are broken.
"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."
Sky News reports that Duncan - who had flown to Tenerife last month to help search for Slater - was told the news while she was at the British Embassy waiting for an update.
Slater's friend Lucy Law, who is thought to be the last person to have had contact with him, has also paid tribute to the teenager.
She said in a post on Instagram: "Honestly lost for words. Always the happiest and most smiley person in the room, you was (sic) one of a kind Jay and you'll be missed more than you know."
Spanish police had announced on Monday that the Civil Guard’s mountain rescue group had located the “lifeless body of a young man in the Masca area after 29 days of constant search”.
Missing persons organisation LBT Global said that Slater’s possessions were discovered next to the body, which was found was close to his last known location.
A court statement earlier on Tuesday confirmed documents on the body belonged to Jay Slater.
It added that “everything suggests that it was an accidental fall” but the results of the official investigation into his death would take more time.
Rescue teams are continuing to search the area where the body was found to ensure that nothing is missed.
Jay Slater had been missing since June 17, when he disappeared after attending a music festival on the island.
He had attended the NRG music festival at Playa da las Americas before traveling 30km to the north of the island to rented accommodation with some people he had befriended on a night out.
He was last heard from at around 08:00 GMT on June 17 when he phoned Law, telling her he had missed a bus back to his own accommodation and had tried to walk the 10-hour journey but was lost in Rural de Teno Park.
He said he needed water and only had one per cent battery left on his phone.
His phone then cut off, and his last known location was shown as the Rural de Teno Park.
Rescue efforts centred on the national park, situated on the other side of Tenerife to where Slater and his friends were staying.
For two weeks, the Guardia Civil conducted an extensive search of the remote, mountainous area north-west of the island where Slater’s was last seen.
Local police ended up calling off their search effort on June 30, but their investigation remained open.
On Sunday, his mum said her family “cannot put into words” the heartache they have experienced since her son’s disappearance.
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