Featured Image Credit: Family Handout
Topics: News, UK News, World News, Jay Slater
Rhianna Benson
The mother of missing teenager Jay Slater has issued a statement after a GoFundMe page set up in his name exceeded £32,000 in donations.
The 19-year-old disappeared after a night out in Tenerife last week and was last heard from at around 8.00am on 17 June after telling a friend he was in the middle of nowhere and needed water.
The journey back to his resort would have taken around 11 hours on foot, yet no one has since seen or heard from Jay.
The Lancashire-born teenager had been enjoying a holiday on the Spanish island with two friends in the hours before he went missing, having flown to the Canary Islands for a music festival.
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One of the friends he was joined by, Lucy, later told police that he'd been on a night out with the group earlier that evening, but had left the group in order to spend time with new people he'd met.
She told the Manchester Evening News that the accommodation of their 'new friends' had been 'in the middle of nowhere', and that Jay had called at around 8.00am the following day to inform her that he was attempting to walk home after being unable to catch a bus.
He also told her his phone battery was on one percent and that he needed a drink of water, but 'didn't know where he was'.
His phone then died, with his last location showing as being in ‘the middle of the mountains with nothing around’.
Jay's location was revealed to be in the Rural de Teno Park - or the National Park of Teno, north west of the island.
Since then, search parties have scoured the island looking for clues pointing at what might have happened to him.
Jay's mother Debbie Duncan also joined the search after her son was reported missing, and has since made a number of statements to the press.
Last week, Debbie was convinced 'people must have seen him' on his walk back to the accommodation, while also admitting she wished she 'hadn't encouraged him to go' on the trip.
Since his disappearance, a GoFundMe page was set up by Jay's pal Lucy, which has today surpassed a staggering £30,000, with the proceeds aimed at helping fund the search for the missing teen.
Following the milestone, Debbie has once again spoken out, vowing never to 'give up on' her son while thanking those who have rallied around her.
"Hi everyone, this is Debbie, Jay's mother. Thank you all for your generosity and kindness during this difficult time," the update read.
"I wanted to confirm that this is the only GoFundMe fundraiser approved by our family. We have not yet withdrawn any funds and are currently covering the expenses, such as the trip to Tenerife and accommodation, ourselves.
"The funds will remain on hold with GoFundMe until we post a further update on this page."
The heartbroken mother continued: "We are extremely worried and are doing everything we can to find Jay. 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. Thank you again."
Jay Slater was last seen wearing a white T-shirt with shorts and trainers.
A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said: “We are supporting the family of a British man who has been reported missing in Spain and are in contact with the local authorities.”