A British teenager, Jay Slater, died after an accidental fall from a height of 20-25 metres, while trying to return to his hotel on foot following a night out in Tenerife, a coroner has determined.
The 19-year-old, from Oswaldtwistle in Lancashire, had consumed a mix of alcohol and drugs while partying in Playa de las Américas before accompanying two men to an Airbnb located in Masca, a secluded mountain village within the Teno national park, during the early hours of 17 June last year. ALSO READ: Body found in Tenerife is that of Jay Slater, autopsy confirms.
The following morning, Slater disappeared after contacting both friends and family to say he was walking back to his accommodation.
His disappearance triggered an extensive, month-long search effort, which culminated in the discovery of his body by mountain rescue teams on steep, rugged terrain near the village.
At the inquest held at Preston coroner’s court in the UK, it was revealed that Slater had died from head injuries. The post-mortem confirmed that his injuries were consistent with falling from a height and showed no signs of physical assault or being restrained.
Toxicology reports showed the presence of alcohol along with several drugs, including cocaine, ketamine and ecstasy.
In an emotional statement, Slater’s mother, Debbie Duncan, paid tribute to her son, describing him as having lived a ‘wonderful life’ and calling him a ‘joy to be around’.
She said Slater was deeply devoted to his family and had a wide group of friends, all of whom were shattered by the news of his death.
‘He was very loved and our hearts are broken,’ Duncan said. ‘Our lives will never be the same without Jay in it.’
The ravine where his body was eventually located — Juan López ravine — was described by Spanish authorities as treacherous, with sheer cliff edges and thick, difficult vegetation that required machetes to navigate.
Roughly 20 metres above where his remains were found, search teams also recovered Slater’s Armani bag. Inside were his phone and a number of nitrous oxide canisters.
Authorities in Spain said they could not offer a clear explanation for why Slater had decided to leave the road and descend into the ravine, especially given that he was unfamiliar with the area and his phone had run out of battery.
During the hearing, it was confirmed that Slater had phoned his friends to say he was ‘in the middle of the mountains’ and needed water.
Bradley Geoghegan, one of Slater’s friends, testified that he received a video call from him. In the footage, Slater was walking along a road and appeared to still be ‘under the influence’.
Another friend, Brandon Hodgson, recalled speaking to Slater that same morning. He described him as ‘laughing and joking’ and appearing to be ‘out of his mind’. In a statement to Spanish investigators, he said: ‘Jay is mentally very childlike.’
Ayub Qassim, who had met Slater during the night out and taken him back to the Airbnb in Masca, described him as: ‘On a buzz. Chilled, happy. Mingling, innit.’
He told the inquest that after they returned, he went upstairs to sleep while Slater remained downstairs. About an hour later, Qassim woke up to move his car and, upon returning, noticed Slater preparing to leave, saying he intended to catch a bus.
Qassim explained to him that buses were infrequent in that area, but Slater departed anyway.
He added: ‘At that point I presumed he’d sit at that bus stop and that’s it. He’s waiting till the first bus comes and he’s out of there.’
Subscribe to the Weekly Newsletter from Spain in English.
Jay Slater died an accidental death, coroner rules https://t.co/7v2aCKbB9E
— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) July 25, 2025
Click here to get your business activity or services listed on our DIRECTORY.
