Jay Slater’s family release statement after body confirmed to be missing teen

The family of Jay Slater have released a statement after the human remains recently discovered in Tenerife were identified as the missing teenager.

The Lancashire-born teenager was first reported missing on 17 June after failing to return to his accommodation following a night out with friends to the Spanish island's NRG music festival.

In the 29 days since his disappearance, a colossal search of the mountainous land that Slater is believed to have travelled before his phone died was undertaken and subsequently concluded, with no indication as to what fate befell the teenager.

However, the Spanish Civil Guard told Sky News yesterday (15 July) that human remains had been discovered in the remote area, with evidence pointing to that of Slater.

Jay Slater went missing last month while on holiday in Tenerife with friends. (PA/Family Handout)

"The Mountain Rescue and Intervention Group of the Civil Guard has located the lifeless body of a young man in the Masca area after 29 days of constant search," the report initially read.

In a tragic update released earlier today, the Spanish court have ruled that the body discovered is, indeed, that of the missing Brit.

The injuries suffered were compatible with a fall from a cliff, the spokesperson added.

Now, in light of the tragic news, Jay's mother Debbie Duncan has broken her silence and issued a statement.

As per a statement released by LBT Global, she said: "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."

And in a further statement released to PA, she described the update as the 'worst news', saying: "I just can’t believe this could happen to my beautiful boy. Our hearts are broken."

Debbie Duncan has issued a heartbreaking statement following the discovery of her son's body. (PA/Family Handout)

Slater was reported missing by his friend Lucy, after he ended up in an apartment in the 'middle of nowhere' following their night out.

She told the Manchester Evening News: "He's gone on a night out, he's gone to a friend's house, someone that he has met on holiday.

One of the people he has met has hired a car out of here, so he's driven them back to his apartment and Jay has gone there not realising how far away it is.

"He's ended up out in the middle of nowhere. Jay was obviously thinking he would be able to get home from there.

"But then in the morning he's set off walking, using his Maps on his phone and ended up in the middle of mountains with nothing around. He rang me at about 8 o'clock [in the] morning saying his phone was on one percent, he said 'I don't know where I am, I need a drink and my phone is about to die'."