The inquest into the death of Jay Slater, the 19-year-old from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, who went missing in Tenerife last summer, has concluded that he died from a traumatic brain injury after falling from a height. The coroner recorded a verdict of accidental death, bringing an end to 13 months of uncertainty for his family.
Pathologist Dr Mark Shepherd told the court that Jay's death was 'probably instantaneous' and that he would have been unaware of the situation after his fall. Toxicology tests revealed that Jay had taken cocaine, MDMA, and alcohol prior to his death, with Spanish authorities also finding evidence of ketamine use both shortly before his death and over a longer period.
The inquest heard that Jay had spent the night at the NRG rave at the Papagayo nightclub in Playa de las Américas before heading to an Airbnb in the remote village of Masca. The next morning, he attempted a 14-hour trek back to his apartment, telling friends he 'couldn't go back' to where he had been. His friend Lucy Law testified that Jay called her in a panic, saying he was 'in the middle of nowhere' and asking if cactuses were poisonous. She told him to go back, but he said he could not.
Spanish mountain rescue experts gave evidence that Jay's lack of experience in mountain regions, recklessness, lack of fitness, and lack of equipment likely contributed to his death. They noted that the terrain was unforgiving and that weather and loose rocks may have been factors. Jay's body was found 29 days later in the Juan Lopez ravine, having undergone 'extensive mummification' due to exposure to the sun.
Coroner Dr James Adeley ruled that Jay died by accident after falling from a height. His body was formally identified using finger and palm prints. The inquest also heard that Jay's friends, who had initially failed to appear at earlier hearings, finally gave evidence, shedding light on his final night out and his last phone call.
Jay's mother, Debbie Duncan, had pleaded for key witnesses to testify, and the family expressed relief that the inquest provided answers. The case had been plagued by speculation, including a rumour about a stolen Rolex, but the inquest focused on the factual evidence surrounding his death.
