- author, Johnny Humphries
- role, BBC News, Tenerife
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Jay Slater’s family left a series of poignant messages near to where the 19-year-old’s body was found.
One was placed next to a single rose and read: “I love you little brother. I never thought this would happen. I’ll take care of Mommy and Daddy.”
The other was tied with a blue ribbon and signed, “To my son. Love you always, from your dad.”
Ms Slater, from Oswaldtwistle, has been formally identified as the body found in a ravine in Tenerife’s Masca district on Monday, almost a month after her disappearance.
Image source, Handouts for families
Charity LBT Global told the BBC it was helping to return the body, and the family will have to wait at least a week before they can take the boy’s body home.
It is understood some of the approximately £60,000 raised through a GoFundMe campaign could be used to cover repatriation costs if necessary.
On Tuesday, the Civil Guard and the High Court of Justice of the Canary Islands confirmed that the body had injuries consistent with a fall onto rocks.
Matthew Searle, chief executive of LBT Global, which has supported the Slater family, told the BBC that he understood Spanish authorities had carried out all necessary investigations.
He is confident insurance will cover the cost of transporting Slater’s body home, but added that crowdfunding donations are an option if insurance is not available.
LBT Global has been supporting Mr Slater’s family through the formal process in the Spanish justice system, but Mr Saar said it could be “overwhelming” for grieving relatives.
He said: “There’s so much to do. When you’re in a foreign country, you don’t speak the language, there’s no one around to help you and you’re in the position Jay’s parents are in, it’s just not something you can handle. It’s overwhelming.”
Image source, Signy Zohonden
Mr Searle also said the charity would try to arrange for Slater’s family to be on the same flight when he returns home.
“It’s always nice when people say we literally brought him home with us,” he added.
Mr Slater’s mother, Debbie Duncan, said the family’s “heart was broken” after her son was identified.
She added: “I can’t believe this is happening to my beautiful son.”
