Jay Slater’s family seen for first time since teen’s body was found in Tenerife mountains as they gather at church

JAY Slater’s distraught family today paid an emotional visit to a church close to where the teen tragically died.

Devastated mum Debbie Duncan, dad Warren Slater and brother Zak were seen in Santiago del Teide – the gateway town to mountainous Masca.

Ian Whittaker

Jay Slater’s family have been seen for the first time[/caption]

Ian Whittaker

Mum Debbie and dad Warren were seen leaving a church in Santiago del Teide[/caption]

Ian Whittaker

Jay’s older brother Zak, 24, was also spotted alongside his dad[/caption]

Warren, wearing a black top, spoke at length to a man in khakis, thought to be from search crew Signi Zoekhondon, outside San Fernando Rey church.

Debbie, 55, meanwhile sat on a bench with sunglasses covering her face as Zak, wearing a blue t-shirt, stood close by.

The family and a handful of others then headed over to a cafe opposite.

Jay’s loved ones were left heartbroken when police on Monday recovered his body from a treacherous ravine 29 days after he vanished.

While the family were in Santiago del Teide, the specialist search team from the Netherlands were seen out on the rocky terrain with sniffer dogs.

They have gone down into the ravine where Jay’s body was discovered that police described as “inaccessible”.

Volunteer group Signi Zoekhondon flew to the island on Sunday evening, hours before Jay’s body was found the following morning.

But they have remained in Tenerife and are set to return later this week.

Ian Whittaker

Debbie said she will give her son ‘the sendoff he deserves’[/caption]

Ian Whittaker

Jay’s family have remained in Tenerife and are set to return to the UK later this week[/caption]

Debbie said today: “The wonderful team Signi Zoekhondon have remained in Spain all week and have continued to support us since Jay was found.

“They are due to fly home in the coming days and we are so appreciative of their dedication and support.”

She also asked for more donations on the GoFundMe page for Jay’s funeral to give him “the send off he deserves”.

The family have remained in Tenerife and are making arrangements for Jay’s body to be repatriated to the UK.

Grief-stricken Debbie, Warren, 58, and Zak, 24, are hoping to go on the same flight – which is expected to be early next week.

Apprentice bricklayer Jay, 19, travelled to a remote Airbnb in Masca with two men in the early hours of June 17.

He had been partying all night in Playa de las Americas, close to an hour’s drive away.

In the morning, he attempted the 11 hour walk back to his own accommodation miles away.

Jay made a tragic final phone call to friend Lucy Law to say he was lost, needed water and only had one per cent phone battery.

It was the last time Jay, from Oswaldtwistle, Lancs, was heard from, and a mammoth search mission was launched.

Jay’s dad Warren and brother Zak spent weeks searching the unforgiving terrain for a breakthrough after the teenager vanished on June 17.

They retraced the apprentice bricklayer’s steps in the blistering heat for days on their own after Spanish cops suspended their search.

But his body was finally discovered by a helicopter crew on Monday at the bottom of a ravine close to where his mobile phone last pinged.

Jay’s body revealed that he had suffered multiple injuries consistent with an accidental fall from a considerable height.

Spanish officials on the Canary Island used fingerprints to confirm his identity.

His body has now been released to the family to make repatriation arrangements.

A spokesman for the family said: “There are a number of complex issues that need to be addressed before he can finally be flown home to the UK.

“But the plan is for his family to be on the same flight. They want to bring him home.” His body is expected to be repatriated by the start of next week, the spokesman added.

It is possible a UK coroner will then request a second post mortem before he can then be released for a funeral.

After authorities confirmed the ID, Jay’s family left touching tributes in the area the teen is feared to have fallen.

A teddy bear with England flags on and a bracelet with the letter J on were also placed on a rocky track where Jay was last known to be.

Debbie described Jay as her “beautiful boy” in a touching handwritten note.

She wrote: “I’m so sorry we never found you.

“I miss you so much. You will be forever young and forever missed. Love you so much.”

Warren left a message that simply read: “To my boy. Love dad.”

Zak promised to take care of their parents, writing: “Love you little bro. Never in a million years did I think I’d be doing this.

“I’ll look after Mum and Dad. Hope you’re partying up there with Grandad. Hope to see you again some day. Rest easy bro. I love you.”