Jay Slater’s mum taking cash from £36k GoFundMe to pay for pals & family to fly to Tenerife as she defends search team

JAY Slater's mum has revealed she is withdrawing some of the £36,000 worth of donations raised amid the hunt for her son.

Debbie Duncan said cash from the GoFundMe page will be used to fly out the "loved ones" of the "wonderful people" who are with her in Tenerife.

Heartbroken Debbie, 55, said money would also go towards the teams on their 11th day searching for Jay, as well as her family's accommodation and food.

She wrote on the page today: "We are currently working with GoFundMe to withdraw part of the funds, which are being safely held.

"I wanted to share that these funds will be used to support the mountain rescue teams who are tirelessly searching for Jay.

"Additionally, since our stay in Tenerife needs to be extended, we will also use the funds to cover accommodation and food expenses.

"I'm surrounded by wonderful people who are by my side, but far from their loved ones, so we'll also be using part of these funds to fly them to Tenerife so we can support each other during these dark times."

It comes days after Debbie was forced to defend the fundraiser after online trolls questioned what the donations would be used for.

The page, set up by Jay's pal Lucy Law, surpassed its £30,000 goal within days.

Debbie lambasted cruel conspiracy theorists asking why money was needed - saying she has been left feeling "very let down".

The mum said: "I am really am saddened by all your comments. You seem to be so bothered about this GoFundMe page.

"I really hope I am not taking my son home in a body bag.

"I really cannot believe the British public are not supporting me in trying to find Jay.

"This may happen to any of you one day. Very let down by you all."

Jay, from Lancashire, has been missing since last Monday, and Debbie said her family are in a "living nightmare" as search teams fail to find any trace of him.

After going to a rave that finished in the early hours of June 17, Jay headed to Masca with two British men he had met that night.

He shared a final Snapchat from their Airbnb of a hand holding a cigarette at 7.30am.

It comes as...

• Jay was attacked by gang when he was just 12
• New pics of Jay emerge at a pool party two days before he vanished
• Cops quiz locals who 'saw Jay watching Euros'
• Investigator reveals descriptions of two men who partied with teen
• Crews scour exact spot where mystery 'grainy figure' was seen
• Tenerife cops plan TV appeal as they hunt for clues
• Pals blast conspiracy theorists and TikTok sleuths
• Jay's mum says she's 'barely slept'

Jay then tried to make his way back to his holiday accommodation - an 11 hour walk away.

But at around 8.50am he made a final frantic call to friend Lucy, telling her he was lost in the "middle of nowhere" with no water and had just one per cent battery on his phone.

It sparked a mammoth search operation involving helicopters, drones and sniffer dogs that has so far drawn blanks.

Rescue crews have been focusing their efforts on the 2,000ft Masca ravine in the north, where his phone last pinged a nearby cell tower.

Earlier this week, cops in Tenerife drafted in reinforcements from Madrid - including specialist sniffer dogs adept at searching vast areas.

Despite an apparent lack of progress in finding Jay, his mum has praised investigators and called on the public to pray for her son.

She told : "I have every faith in them down on the ground and the amazing searches they are carrying out along with more amazing guys up there.

"As a family we are in a living nightmare. We have no further updates other than Jay is still missing and we are just ignoring the social media side of things."

Debbie was referring to warped conspiracy theorists and trolls plaguing social media with vile posts.

Mindless wannabe sleuths have also taken it upon themselves to attempt to investigate Jay's disappearance.

Sat behind their computers 2,000 miles away in the UK, internet trolls are peddling wild conspiracy theories and baseless claims.

Many are using Google maps to scour the desolate Rural de Teno park to hunt for clues before plastering their wild thoughts over social media.

Thousands of keyboard bashers have joined pathetic Facebook groups, including one called Jay Slater Discussions and Theories.

Within the publicly visible groups are dozens of cruel, senseless posts spewing completely unfounded claims and vile comments.

Most are posted anonymously or by trolls using spurious names.

Warped memes about Jay's disappearance have also been shared within the groups.

Far-fetched theories suggest Jay could have been kidnapped after crossing "Moroccan drugs gangs" or that the mafia is behind his disappearance.

Jay's pal Megan Blair called out trolls and warned them to stop spreading ridiculous claims.

She said: "Can everyone stop believing everything they see on TikTok, the stories aren't true and just things people are making up.

"I honestly think it's disgusting, there are people going live with the caption "finding Jay".

"If you are helping to find Jay then do it without using him as a way to gain followers.

"He isn't just a pawn in your way to get fame. This is somebody's son and friend and there are people who are genuinely worried."