Jay Slater's Mother on Retracing Son's Steps and Finding Closure
Debbie Duncan, the mother of Jay Slater, who died after going missing in Tenerife in June 2024, shares her experience of retracing her son's footsteps. She states that it was "very tough and emotional" but provided her with "more closure."
"We could look at the terrain in more detail," she explains. "It was the timeline for me, from his location... to him saying 'I don't know where I am, I am lost'. So that was important to me, to time it."
In a forthcoming Cause of Death documentary on Channel Five, the episode retraces Jay's steps with forensic pathologist Richard Shepherd, offering insights into his injuries.
Debbie expresses hope that, following the airing, people "may well believe the facts" surrounding her son's tragic accident. She also advocates for "Jay's Law" to combat online trolling of grieving families.
"The conspiracies were wild," she remarks. "It's downright bullying. They know the facts but they don't want to believe them."
Despite the challenges, Debbie finds solace in connecting with other bereaved parents, saying, "I can't say it helps, but talking to other parents who have gone through losing their children, you know you are not on your own."