Jay Slater's mum issues statement on fundraising page after £30,000 target reach amid search
ITV Granada Reports correspondent Mel Barham is in Tenerife following developments
A fundraiser set up by the last person to speak to Jay Slater, the teenager who went missing during a holiday in Tenerife, has hit its target of £30,000.
The GoFundMe created by Lucy Law to “get Jay Slater home” had received almost £33,000 in donations on Monday morning, 24 June.
The page was set up by Jay's friend three days ago and a post below, which claims to be from Jay’s mother Debbie Duncan, confirmed it was “approved by our family”.
The post said: “We have not yet withdrawn any funds and are currently covering the expenses, such as the trip to Tenerife and accommodation, ourselves.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.”
A GoFundMe spokesperson said: “We are in touch with Jay Slater’s mother, Debbie, and working with her to keep everyone updated on how their donations will be used in the search.
“For now, the money is with GoFundMe as we work through the next steps.”
Jay, from Oswaldtwistle in Lancashire, disappeared following an attempt to walk back to his accommodation after missing a bus.
He had attended the NRG music festival on the island with two friends before his disappearance.
Ms Law, who went to the festival with Jay, said he called her at about 8.30am on Monday and told her he was “lost in the mountains, he wasn’t aware of his surroundings, he desperately needed a drink and his phone was on 1%”.
Ms Duncan, who flew to Tenerife the day after he was reported missing, said searching for her son was “an absolute living nightmare”.
Ms Duncan told ITV News: “He’s the life and soul, he’s a beautiful boy.”
Jay was last seen wearing a white T-shirt with shorts and trainers, and carrying a black bag.
Search teams have narrowed their efforts on small buildings close to where his phone last pinged in Tenerife.
Officers from the Guardia Civil in the Canary Islands could be seen circling two structures at the bottom of a ravine in Rural de Teno Park on Sunday.
Efforts appeared to be solely focused on the one area after days of searches in the village of Masca and the surrounding landscape.
Those conducting the searches on the seventh day of the hunt for Jay could be seen looking into blue barrels outside one of the small buildings.
The efforts come after the teenager’s mother issued a direct plea to her missing son, saying: “We just need you home.”
Ms Duncan said she has “not slept” since the 19-year-old disappeared.
She said she did not know whether the Spanish authorities turning down an offer of help from the UK was because they viewed it as “an insult”.
Asked how the family was coping with the situation, Ms Duncan said: “We’re not. I’m not coping very well at all.
“I’ve not slept, I’m exhausted. It’s been awful.
“I can’t give up on him, I just can’t.”
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