Jay Slater’s mum is ‘lost for words’ after ‘beautiful’ son’s body is found with ‘multiple injuries’ in Tenerife ravine
JAY Slater's mum said "our hearts are broken" after her "beautiful" son was found dead in Tenerife.
The Brit teenager's body was found on Monday - just yards from his last known location four weeks ago.
On Tuesday, a Tenerife court identified his body by fingerprints and said he had suffered multiple injuries.
Jay’s mum Debbie Duncan, 55, said: "I just can’t believe this could happen to my beautiful boy. Our hearts are broken."
She said it was the "worst news".
The teen's death was caused by "trauma consistent with a fall in a rocky area", the Canary Islands High Court of Justice said.
Read more on Jay Slater
A spokesman said: "We have a positive ID... fingerprinting confirms that the body belongs to Jay Slater and the death was due to multiple traumas compatible with a fall in the mountainous area."
Spanish police recovered Jay's body from a steep ravine in Masca on Monday after 29 days.
Officials said the body was "very deteriorated" and documents found with it were Jay’s.
Charity LBT Global, who are supporting the family, said the teenager's belongings were also found near the body.
Dramatic footage showed the moment a helicopter crewman was winched into the chasm with his arms aloft in the delicate recovery operation.
Apprentice bricklayer Jay, from Lancashire, vanished without a trace on June 17 while on holiday with friends Brad Hargreaves and Lucy Law.
He had gone in the early hours with two men to their Airbnb in the north of the Canary Island after leaving a music festival at a nightclub.
As he attempted the 11-hour walk back to his own accommodation through the rough and rocky terrain, it is feared accidentally fell.
Debbie and dad Warren Slater, 58, jetted to the island and have been battling for answers.
They got the news they were dreading on Monday when Spanish police revealed a body had been located.
His devastated mum Debbie said she wanted to see her beloved son one more time.
A family spokesman told The Sun: "There should be no need for the family to have to perform a formal identification.
"Debbie has said she wants to see him one last time.
"Obviously that's a personal voice but given he's been there the best part of a month in those conditions, I'm not sure that's a memory she will want."
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Arrangements are being made to repatriate the body to the UK where a second post-mortem is likely to be carried out by a Home Office pathologist.
A court in the town of Icod de los Vinos, which covers the area of Masca where the body was found, is in charge of the ongoing investigation.
More to follow... For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online
Thesun.co.uk is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.
Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thesun and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSun.