Jay Slater: Mother closes GoFundMe page after £72,000 raised as she reveals how funds were spent
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In her final update, Debbie Duncan, 56, revealed how the funds were spent and thanked the people for the support she and her family received during the heartbreaking ordeal.
Jay, a 19-year-old apprentice bricklayer from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, disappeared on June 17 after attending the NRG music festival in Playa de las Americas. His body was discovered on July 15, following a month-long search, with a post-mortem confirming he died from traumatic head injuries, consistent with a fall. Despite his tragic passing, donations to the GoFundMe page continued to pour in.
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Hide AdMrs Duncan explained that the funds were crucial in financing the search efforts, including the Signi search team from the Netherlands, who assisted the family during the critical time when Jay’s body was located. The money also allowed the family to stay in Tenerife and bring Jay’s body back to the UK.
"With your support we were able to stay in Tenerife until we got our beautiful boy back to the UK," Mrs Duncan wrote. "We were able to fund the Signi search team 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."


The money also helped the family give Jay the "send off he truly deserved" during his funeral at Accrington Cemetery Chapel in Lancashire on August 10. Mrs Duncan said: "Our journey of trauma and grief will continue forever and we will never recover."
The fundraiser, initially set up by Jay’s best friend Lucy Mae, raised £54,000 by the time Jay’s body was found, with further donations following. Duncan added: "Jay really did touch the hearts of the nation and it truly showed us how much love you all shared with us."
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Hide AdHowever, the family also faced significant online harassment, including cruel conspiracy theories, fake videos, and false claims about the fundraiser. Some online trolls even accused the family of misusing the funds, despite the family not having direct control over the page.
"We do not and will never understand how Jay's story reached every corner of the globe," Mrs Duncan said. "Our journey is far from over but the burdens have been eased with your support."
Duncan also vowed to campaign for tougher laws against trolling, which she said had "terrorised" her family during their grief. In her final update, she thanked those who supported the GoFundMe campaign and the person who managed the page, saying: "The support and advice you gave will not be forgotten."
As the donations were officially turned off, Duncan signed off with a message of love: "We outnumber the trolls significantly. When love versus hatred, love triumphs… all you need is love. God bless you all."
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