The ‘Get Jay Slater Home’ GoFundMe page is now sitting at £48,500 (!), prompting Jay’s mum Debbie Duncan to provide a further update as to where the funds will be allocated.

Previously, she had shared that that she was spending some of the cash on flying supporters and their families out to Tenerife, although Spanish police have since called off their search and even Maddie McCann investigator Mark Williams-Thomas gave up after 5 days.

Debbie is not losing hope though, and has revealed that she’ll be withdrawing some more cash from the GoFundMe to support TikTok mountaineer Paul Arnott as he assists with the search.

Debbie Duncan’s latest update on the GoFundMe page confirms she’ll be funding Arnott’s efforts with ‘equipment and essentials’, while also housing other volunteers:

‘Your generosity has been vast, and we are so grateful for all of your support and kindness during this unimaginable time for our family.

‘As I said in my official statement, the Spanish police conducted a land search for 12 days which involved every resource they had available. Although the land search ended, the Spanish police still continue with their investigations into why Jay had travelled to the location so far away from his accommodation. We offer our sincere thanks to the Spanish authorities, who continue to follow lines of inquiries.

‘In the meantime, we will continue to use part of the funds to support the volunteers working hard in the mountains to find Jay. We are currently looking after Paul Arnett, putting together a package of any equipment and essentials he needs and going up to do a drop for him. We are also supporting Callum Fahim and his group with accommodation and other essentials.

‘The remaining funds will continue to be used to support the rescue teams who are tirelessly searching for Jay as well as our own expenses as we remain in Tenerife looking for our boy.

‘We will continue to keep you all updated on the progress on our GoFundMe page, and we thank you for your continued support. Please keep sharing and supporting our fundraiser to help us bring Jay home.’

Arnott has been posting regular updates on TikTok since travelling to Tenerife to help find Jay Slater, who has now been missing for two weeks. Here’s one of his latest updates from the Spanish island:

@downtherapids Exact spot #jayslater #tenerife #missingperson #searchandrescue ♬ original sound – DOWNTHERAPIDS

I guess it truly is desperate times when you’re relying on a TikTok mountaineer to find your missing son in Tenerife, but at this point, anything’s worth a try. Arnott does have pretty large following on TikTok (over 300k) and seems like he knows what he’s doing, so let’s hope he can make a breakthrough that the Spanish police and that cocky Maddie McCann investigator couldn’t.

In any case, it’s good of Debbie Duncan to keep providing updates as to how the GoFundMe cash is being spent, given the level of cynicism and number of conspiracy theories out there. At least now we know she’s not spending any of it on new shoes and a handbag, right? Indeed, the money’s going exactly where the donors would want it to go – to the family’s continued efforts to locate Jay Slater and bring him home, as unlikely as that might seem right now.

For a look at what the Spanish media has been writing about Jay Slater’s pal Lucy Mae, click HERE.