Jay Slater's 'devastating' final moments before his death is laid out to family for first time

Wales Online

21-05-2025

Jay Slater's 'devastating' final moments before his death is laid out to family for first time
The last moments of teenager Jay Slater, whose disappearance sparked a huge manhunt last year when he vanished in Tenerife, have been discussed at an inquest into his death
An inquest is being held into Jay Slater's death after his body was found in Spain last summer
(Image: Family Handout/LBT Global/PA )
The family of Jay Slater have learned of his final moments before he died in Tenerife. They were told that the teen's death would have been "very quick" during an inquest
The disappearance of the 19-year-old from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, sparked a huge search for the teenager in Tenerife last June. Friends and family flew out to help with the search. His disappearance sparked a huge wave of media attention before his body was finally discovered.
‌
Jay's remains were found a month later, near near the village of Masca. It was believed he had died after falling from a height in the steep and inaccessible area where he was eventually found.
‌
On Wednesday, his family were told about his final moments before he died at an inquest at Preston Coroner's Court.
During the hearing, Home Office pathologist Dr Richard Shepherd gave medical evidence suggesting Jay suffered a "heavy fall from height" - and the "devastating" effects would have been immediate.
Dr Shepherd said: "The injury is so severe that I have no doubt at all he would have been rendered immediately unconscious... death was either instantaneous or extremely quick.
Article continues below
"The pattern of injuries is entirely consistent with a heavy fall from height."
Dr Shepherd told the inquest Jay's head injury was so serious it is highly unlikely he could have survived, even if Jay had been admitted to a specialist neurosurgical unit.
He also said that Jay's body was decomposing by the time he examined it. He explained: "There were extensive changes due to decomposition. There were changes due to the period of time he was lying in a hot environment - changes I would expect to see in that period of 28 days or thereabouts.
‌
"The pattern of injuries is entirely consistent with a heavy fall from height."
A CT scan also showed there was "a severe fracture of the head."
The inquest also heard from toxicologist Dr Stephanie Martin that more than one drug was present in his body when he died.
‌
Although tests when someone who has been dead for some time are "extremely challenging", she determined that Jay had ecstasy in his system at the time of his death.
Also present was a cocaine metabolite, which is present when cocaine is taken at the same time as the consumption of alcohol.
Dr Martin says it is impossible to say exactly when Jay took the drugs but it is "likely within a day or so of his death."
Article continues below
The Spanish authorities also carried out their own toxicology tests on Jay's body. Dr Martin said: "The only difference between our results and their results is that they found ketamine and its metabolites."