Alex McCurthy
A fundraising page created to support the family of missing teenager Jay Slater has surpassed its £30,000 goal within just three days of being set up. The GoFundMe page was initiated by Lucy Mae, a friend of Jay, who was the last person to have contact with him before his disappearance in Tenerife last Monday.
Jay, an apprentice bricklayer, went missing after attending a three-day music festival in Tenerife, triggering a week-long investigation by Spanish authorities. Since its launch, more than 2,900 people have contributed to the fundraiser, sending their well wishes to his family. The page hit its £30,000 target at 3 PM today.
In a statement on the site, Jay’s mother, Debbie Duncan, expressed her gratitude: “Thank you for your generosity and kindness during this difficult time.” She also confirmed that this is the only GoFundMe fundraiser approved by the family, stating they have not yet withdrawn any funds and are currently covering the expenses, such as travel to Tenerife and accommodation, themselves. “The funds will remain on hold with GoFundMe until we post a further update on this page,” she added. “We are extremely worried and are doing everything we can to find Jay.”
Lucy, who attended the NRG music festival with Jay, recounted that he mentioned feeling disoriented, desperately needing water, but having none. Spanish police are currently searching for Jay in the Teno Nature Reserve, known locally as ‘malpais,’ translating to ‘badland.’
Lucy criticized the efforts of the Spanish police, known as the Guardia Civil, stating they were not doing an adequate job and mentioning the language barrier as a significant issue. She urged for British police intervention to assist in the search efforts.
In a statement released late on Friday, Lancashire Police offered support to the Guardia Civil, which was declined as local authorities claimed they had sufficient resources. Debbie Duncan expressed her frustration: “I know the Spanish police mean well, but the problem we are having is the language barrier. I’m sure they are doing their best, but I would feel happier if our people were over helping.”
Jay’s father, Warren, and his brother, Zak, have visited the location where Jay’s phone last pinged, expressing their deep distress and desire to bring Jay back. A new video has emerged showing Jay dancing shirtless in a Tenerife nightclub just hours before his disappearance. The video adds to the timeline, showing Jay enjoying himself at Papagayo nightclub in the Veronica’s Strip area of Playa de las Americas.
Jay was last seen at an Airbnb in Masca with two British men. A woman reported seeing someone resembling Jay walking up a hill away from Playa de las Americas around 8:15 AM. Another potential sighting was reported near a church in Santiago de Teide, though it has not been confirmed.
Debbie Duncan continues to ask for support: “Please continue to share our fundraiser far and wide. Your support means the world to us, and we are grateful for any help you can provide.”
The Lancashire teenager’s last contact was with Lucy at around 8 AM on Monday, from a secluded mountain pass in Masca. He told her he was “lost in the mountains with no water” and his phone was nearly dead, with its last signal near the Masca gorge beauty spot.
The walk from Jay’s last known location to his accommodation would have taken about 11 hours on foot, adding urgency to the search efforts as his family and friends continue to hope for his safe return.
