A coroner has ruled that the death of Jay Slater, the 19-year-old from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, who went missing in Tenerife in June 2024, was accidental.
Jay disappeared on 17 June after attempting to walk back to his accommodation following a night out involving drugs and alcohol. A large-scale search effort spanned nearly a month until his body was discovered on 15 July in a remote ravine near the village of Masca.
Coroner’s Findings
At Preston Coroner’s Court, Dr. James Adeley confirmed that Jay died on 17 June 2024 from severe injuries sustained after falling up to 25 meters (82 feet) in a hazardous area of the Rural de Teno national park. The fall caused multiple skull fractures and fatal brain trauma, leading to instant death.
Dr. Adeley stated that contributing factors to the accident likely included a lack of appropriate clothing, exhaustion, limited mountain experience, and the lingering effects of drugs taken during the previous night. Additional fractures were found in Jay’s pelvis, but his head injuries alone were unsurvivable, even with immediate medical assistance.
“It is of some consolation to the family that Jay would not have suffered,” the coroner added.
Family and Friends Remember Jay
During the inquest, Jay’s mother, Debbie Duncan, described her son as someone who “loved his family very much” and was “not afraid to show affection.”
“He had a large circle of friends who have been left devastated by his passing,” she said. “He was very loved and our hearts are broken.”
Jay’s father, Warren Slater, remained composed as the findings were delivered, while his mother nodded quietly.
Events Leading to His Disappearance
The inquest heard evidence from Lucy Law, who was on holiday with Jay. She recalled a phone call from Jay on the morning of 17 June, in which he said he was “in the middle of the mountains” with little battery left on his phone.
His friend, Bradley Geoghegan, told the court that Jay had consumed a combination of ecstasy, cocaine, ketamine, and alcohol the night before he vanished. The next morning, Geoghegan video-called Jay and urged him to get a taxi rather than attempt the 14-hour walk back to Los Cristianos.
“I think he got there, realized where he was, sobered up, and tried to come back,” Geoghegan said.
A Community in Mourning
Jay Slater’s tragic death has left a deep void among his friends and family, who continue to remember him as a “joy to be around” with a “wonderful life ahead of him.” The inquest, which was adjourned in May to gather witness evidence, has now concluded with a verdict of accidental death
