Jay Slater’s mum reveals what she spent £72k GoFundMe cash on as she closes fundraiser 4 months after son’s tragic death
JAY Slater’s mum has thanked well-wishers after closing her £72,000 GoFundMe page – four months after her son’s tragic death.
Debbie Duncan, 56, also revealed what she spent the money on in a touching final message.
Jay’s best friend Lucy Mae – who was in Tenerife with him when he vanished – set up the GoFundMe.
Debbie closed the fundraising page last Thursday, thanking “all you beautiful people who supported us throughout this heartbreaking time”.
She added: “Jay really did touch the hearts of the nation and it truly showed us how much love you all shared with us.
“With your support we were able to stay in Tenerife until we got our beautiful boy back to the UK.
“We were able to fund the the Signi search team from the Netherlands who supported us throughout the days when Jay was found.
“Jay truly deserved the send off we were able to give him and we thank you all for that.”
Devastated Debbie said she has been “overwhelmed” with messages of support.
“Our journey of trauma and grief will continue for ever and we will never recover,” she said.
“We lost our beautiful boy in extremely tragic circumstances whilst the world watched.
“We do not and will never understand how Jay’s story reached every corner of the globe.”
And the grieving mum confirmed that this will be the final message on the GoFundMe page.
She continued: “Our journey is far from over but the burdens eased with your support.
“We would also like to thank the person who looked after Jay’s fundraiser page whom we have been in constant contact with, especially whilst in Tenerife, the support and advice you gave will not be forgotten.
“Donations will be turned off with this final message.
“Jay’s family and friends are trying to come to terms and process this tragic loss and thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”
The GoFundMe raised £72,821 in total.
Debbie has previously lashed out at vicious online trolls attacking her and Jay.
She spoke of the vile abuse she had seen during the search for her son.
She said at the time: “Losing Jay was hard enough but then having to read what some people are writing is torture.
“I’m not good really and I would be lying if I said I was alright, the last few hours have just been awful.”
THE SEARCH FOR JAY SLATER
In June, a search for Jay Slater drew national attention after he disappeared whilst on holiday with friends in Tenerife.
He was last seen leaving the Papagayo night club with Ayub Qassim and another man for a £40-a-night Airbnb 23 miles away in the village of Masca.
Jay had made a phone call to Lucy Mae at 8:50am the morning he was last seen.
The eerie call said he was “lost in the middle of nowhere”.
Timeline of the tragic case
JAY'S body was finally found after weeks of agony for the teen's friends and family with many questions still left unanswered - here is how the events unfolded...
Sunday, June 16: Jay and his friends party at the last day of NRG music festival being held at Papagayo night club in Playa de la Americas, Tenerife.
June 17 3-6am: Jay leaves with Ayub Qassim and another man for a £40-a-night Airbnb 23 miles away in the village of Masca.
7.30am: Jay shares a photo on Snapchat standing at doorway of the Airbnb.
8.50am: He calls pal Lucy Mae Law and says he is “lost in the middle of nowhere” with no water, a cut to his leg and one per cent on his phone.
Tuesday, June 18: Pals search area but no sign of Jay. Local cops and mountain rescue teams start official search. Jay’s mother Debbie Duncan flies to Tenerife.
June 19-20: Spanish police deploy drones, dogs and a helicopter, but find no trace. Search moves to Los Cristianos amid possible sighting, but it is ruled out and
they return to Rural de Teno, near Masca.
June 21: Lancashire Police offer support but it is declined.
June 22: Mum Debbie issues emotional appeal to Jay saying “We just need you home.”
June 24: Claims of Jay sighting in Santiago del Teide — near to where he disappeared — and family believe a grainy CCTV image could be of him.
June 25: Debbie issues plea for her son to come home as more friends fly out and TV investigator Mark Williams- Thomas joins search.
June 29: Cops rule Mr Qassim, and other man at Airbnb, out of investigation.
June 30: Spanish cops officially suspend hunt but say probe “remains open”. His family continue to search.
July 15: A body is found by helicopter search team close to where his phone last pinged. His possessions are discovered next to human remains. Spanish cops say it points to an “accidental fall”.
August 5: Tenerife authorities confirm the body found in mountainous area of island is Jay’s.
August 10: Jay’s funeral is held at Accrington Crematorium, Lancs, with hundreds of mourners gathering to remember the “one of a kind” teen
An extensive search was suspended, and the remains of Jay Slater would be found over two weeks later.
His death was ruled as an “accidental fall” down a treacherous ravine.
A funeral for the teen was held in August.
In an exclusive interview with The Sun, Debbie said: “Jay was just a lovely boy with a massive personality.
“Everybody just loved Jay being in his company – family, friends and work.
“He was loving and popular, always full of fun and smiling – and the main guy in the group.”