Jay Slater's mum issues update amid search for missing teenager: 'Difficult to wrap our heads around'
Jay Slater's mum has given a new update on the case
Lucy Law
The mother of missing teenager Jay Slater has given an update on her son, who has been missing for 11 days.
Debbie Duncan, who is currently in Tenerife to help look for the 19-year-old, posted the update on a fundraising page set up to find the missing boy, which has raked in donations of more than £35,000.
Writing on the GoFundMe page today, Duncan informed the public of her plans to "withdraw part of the (£36,250) funds".
She wrote: "First, I would like to thank everyone for your support, kind messages, and good wishes.
Jay Slater's mum has given a new update on the caseLucy Law"It’s difficult to wrap our heads around what is happening right now, but we are not losing hope that we will find Jay and return home together.
"We are currently working with GoFundMe to withdraw part of the funds, which are being safely held.
"I wanted to share that these funds will be used to support the mountain rescue teams who are tirelessly searching for Jay.
"Additionally, since our stay in Tenerife needs to be extended, we will also use the funds to cover accommodation and food expenses.
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Spanish Police have meticulously searched the area where his phone signal was last located, with no trace of Jay Slater being found so farReuters"I'm surrounded by wonderful people who are by my side, but far from their loved ones, so we'll also be using part of these funds to fly them to Tenerife so we can support each other during these dark times."
Slater flew from Lancashire to the Canary Islands for a music festival but disappeared after he went to stay with people he met during a night out on June 16.
During his final call to his friend Lucy Law at 8am local time last Monday, the 19-year-old said his phone had only one per cent battery, he was thirsty, and he did not know where he was.
His last location showed he was in the Rural de Teno Park - an area popular among hikers. He has not been seen since and the search has entered its eleventh day.
This map shows where Jay attended the music festival and where his last known location on the island was PAFollowing his disappearance, internet trolls set up fake GoFundMe pages in Slater's name, with his family coming forward to beg people not to donate to them. All seven bogus pages have since been deleted.
Since then a frenzy of wild claims have been made on social media, vile messages have been sent to his mum and friends have even claimed that Slater's Instagram account had been hacked.
Hitting out at the reaction, Rachel Hargreaves, a friend of Slater's who is currently out in Tenerife, wrote on Facebook: "All the groups are full of trolls and sickos.
"I can’t believe some people are actually this sick in the head there are people hacking my accounts and Jay's family’s making it pure lies and pretending we are all in it," she said.
"Jay's missing and it’s absolutely soul destroying."