The anguished mother of missing teenager Jay Slater has shared the harrowing details of their final, desperate phone call, revealing the moment her mother's intuition told her something was terribly wrong.
Debbie Duncan has recounted the last conversation she had with her 19-year-old son from Tenerife, where he vanished on Monday, June 17th. In an exclusive and emotional interview, she described the panic in his voice as he told her he was lost, alone, and desperately thirsty.
"He was not in his right mind," Debbie stated, her voice heavy with emotion. "He was out of it. He said, 'I'm lost, mum. I don't know where I am. I need a drink.' And then he said his phone was on one percent."
That chilling final sentence was the last she heard from him before the line went dead. The call cut out, plunging his family into a nightmare that has now stretched on for days.
A Mother's Intuition
Debbie immediately knew the situation was critical. Unlike other times he might have been late or out of touch, this felt profoundly different. "I knew something was wrong, I knew it. I could just feel it," she explained. The mother's instinct that her son was in grave danger has been the driving force behind her relentless push for search efforts to continue.
The Agonising Search in Rural Tenerife
Jay was last known to be in the rugged, remote Rural de Teno park in the north of the island—a stark contrast to the tourist-filled southern beaches. The difficult terrain, with its steep mountains and ravines, has complicated the extensive search operation involving Spanish police, mountain rescue units, and fire crews.
Despite days of searching by land and air, the official search has now been scaled back, a devastating blow to his family and friends who refuse to give up.
A Family's Plea and Unwavering Hope
Faced with the scaling down of official efforts, Debbie and a group of Jay's friends have made a direct plea for continued support. They are urging anyone with information or specialist resources to come forward, determined to bring him home.
Through the pain and uncertainty, Debbie clings to a fragile hope. "I've got to be positive. He's out there somewhere. I just want him home," she said, a sentiment that echoes the unwavering love of a mother waiting for her son.
