Jay slater's cause of death explained as inquest told 'extensive injuries'

THE 19-YEAR-OLD WAS REPORTED MISSING IN TENERIFE LAST YEAR 14:13, 21 May 2025 Teenager Jay Slater, who vanished in Tenerife last summer, died from a head injury, an inquest has heard. The

19-year-old's disappearance on the Spanish island sparked a major manhunt. He has been holidaying in Tenerife and was at the NRG music festival with friends at the Papagayo nightclub,

in the resort of Playa de las Americas, on June 16 last year. READ MORE: MOMENT KILLER TORCHES HOME TRAPPING FAMILY INSIDE DURING HORROR ARSON It is believed that in the early hours of the

next day, he went to an apartment with other people he had met while on holiday. Jay, from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, was reported missing on June 18. Article continues below His body was

found in a steep and inaccessible area by a mountain rescue team from the Spanish Civil Guard, near the village of Masca, on July 15, 2024. His mum Debbie Duncan, stepfather and other family

members attended the inquest at Preston Coroner’s Court today, Wednesday, May 21. Home Office pathologist Dr Richard Shepherd described the injuries found on Jay during a post-mortem

examination. Other than from lacerations and cuts to the left side of his head, the major findings were associated with head injuries and his pelvis. He said: "There was extensive

fractures of the left side of his head. "Several extensive fractures extending into the bottom of the skull. "Also fractures to the left side of the pelvis and hip joints.

"The pattern of the injuries were entirely consistent with a heavy fall, a fall from a height, landing on his head." Dr James Adeley, senior coroner for Lancashire and Blackburn

with Darwen, asked the witness if there was any suggestion Jay had been assaulted or restrained. Dr Shepherd said: "That’s something I considered very carefully, something I would

always look to identify. "The pattern of the injuries when someone is assaulted or restrained are very different from the type of injuries and pattern I found with Jay." DON'T

MISS THE BIGGEST AND BREAKING STORIES BY SIGNING UP TO THE BIRMINGHAMLIVE NEWSLETTER HERE. Dr Adeley continued: "Nothing to suggest that was the case?" Dr Shepherd: "Nothing

to suggest an assault, gripping, holding, nothing of that sort." The witness was asked about what effect the skull injuries would have. Dr Shepherd said: "It would have had an

immediate and devastating effect on Jay’s consciousness. "The injuries were so severe I have not doubt he would have been instantly unconscious from the moment of that blow to the head.

"Death could well have been instant, the injury was so severe. Jay would undoubtedly be unconscious and unaware. "It’s most likely death would have occurred instantly or extremely

soon afterwards." Dr Shephard gave the official cause of death as a head injury. A preliminary Spanish post-mortem examination report recorded the death as 'violent', with

the immediate cause being 'traumatic shock' and a severe traumatic brain injury. Dr Shepherd told the inquest the findings were consistent with his own findings. Toxicology expert

Dr Stephanie Martin said there were difficulties checking for the presence of drugs or alcohol in a body that was so severely decomposed. But she said analysis of Jay's body showed

traces of MDMA and MDA, commonly known as ecstasy, along with cocaine and alcohol. Article continues below Dr Martin said due to the limitations of the analysis, she could not say exactly

how much or how soon before death the drugs had been taken. Analysis of samples by the Spanish authorities also showed the presence of ketamine, which was not found in the UK samples. The

hearing continues.