Friends and Family Wear Blue at Funeral of ‘Forever 19’ Apprentice Jay Slater

Up to 500 mourners recently attended the funeral service of teenager Jay Slater, remembered fondly for having “touched the lives of so many people.”

Family and friends filled the chapel at Accrington Crematorium to pay their final respects to the 19-year-old from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, who tragically died while on holiday in Tenerife.

The ceremony attracted such a large gathering that many who could not find space inside the chapel watched the proceedings in the drizzle outside, thanks to a specially erected big screen.

At the request of his family, most attendees wore the color blue in Jay’s memory. This included his colleagues from PH Build Group, where he was an apprentice bricklayer, who wore T-shirts emblazoned with ‘Forever 19’ on the front.

Funeral director Sarah Barton officiated the service, addressing the congregation with heartfelt words. “We know that Jay touched the lives of so many people, and on behalf of the family I would like to thank all those who have sent heartfelt messages and cards to help them through this incredibly hard and sad time,” she said.

Barton also expressed gratitude towards those who helped bring Jay safely back home, including family, friends, and kind offers from people in Tenerife. “The police here back home and all of you for coming here today to show your love and care — we deeply appreciate it,” she added.

A post-mortem examination revealed that the teenager died on June 17 of traumatic head injuries, consistent with a fall from height. His death was instantaneous.

Mr. Slater had been attending the NRG music festival with two friends before his disappearance. His last known location was the Rural de Teno Park in the north of the Canary Island, which is roughly an 11-hour walk from his accommodation.

He had traveled to an Airbnb in Masca after a night out. The two men reportedly renting the property were later determined to be “not relevant” to the case.

The Spanish Civil Guard suggested that Mr. Slater could have fallen in the steep and inaccessible area where he was ultimately discovered.