**Inquest Reveals Jay Slater’s Final Hours Involved Drink, Drugs, and an Attempted 14-Hour Trek Home**
The inquest into the tragic death of Jay Slater, a teenager from Lancashire who went missing during a summer holiday in Tenerife, has provided fresh insight into the complex circumstances surrounding his disappearance. Slater, who was just 19 at the time, vanished in June of last year after a night of heavy drinking and drug use, leading to an extensive search effort that gripped both the UK and Spain.
Jay Slater had travelled to the Spanish island to enjoy the popular NRG music festival with friends, a trip which saw the group spending their nights in the lively resort of Playa de las Americas. The court in Preston heard that, rather than returning to his apartment after a night out at the Papagayo nightclub, Mr Slater accepted an invitation to an Airbnb situated a considerable distance away. This decision would ultimately lead to circumstances with tragic consequences.
Bradley Geoghegan, a close friend who accompanied Slater to Tenerife, recalled the night in question while giving evidence to the inquest. According to Mr Geoghegan, Slater consumed a combination of ecstasy, cocaine, alcohol and possibly ketamine while out in the resort. His intoxication reached such a level that he was forced to leave the club, but undeterred, he made his way to the Airbnb with two men the group had met during the holiday.
The following morning, Mr Geoghegan described receiving a video call from Slater, who appeared to still be under the influence and was seen walking along a road in rural Tenerife. When asked to check his map for the journey home, Slater discovered he faced a daunting 14-hour walk to return to his accommodation, or a one-hour drive. Geoghegan advised him to get a taxi, but was doubtful Slater had any money on him. “Tenerife taxis ask for payment up front,” he pointed out to the court.
Crucially, Mr Geoghegan told the inquest that he did not believe Jay felt threatened, nor under any form of duress, during the call. He speculated that his friend had simply realised the gravity of his situation, “sobered up and decided to come back”. The court was also told that Mr Slater unsuccessfully tried to find a bus or taxi as he began the long journey back on foot.
As the search for Jay unfolded, phone data indicated that he left the Airbnb property early in the morning around 7.45am. Activity on his phone ceased at 8.51am, suggesting the battery died at that time. Spanish witnesses recalled being approached by a young man, matching Slater’s description, who inquired about transport options to return to his holiday flat.
In the weeks that followed his disappearance, rescue teams combed expansive and treacherous areas in north-west Tenerife. It was not until 15 July that Spanish authorities located his body in a steep, isolated ravine near the village of Masca. Marieke Krans, from the Dutch charity Signi Zoekhonden, which assisted with the search, described the terrain as “really steep, really dangerous”, with a significant risk of losing one’s footing.
Toxicology results presented during the inquest confirmed the presence of alcohol, cocaine, ketamine, and ecstasy in Slater’s system at the time of death. Dr Richard Shepherd, a Home Office pathologist, attributed the teenager’s death to head injuries consistent with a fall from height. Importantly, the post-mortem found no evidence of physical restraint or assault.
The inquest also heard that Jay’s family, represented by his mother Debbie Duncan, continue to seek answers and requested the proceedings be resumed so that further witnesses can be traced, after several failed to attend an earlier hearing. Coroner Dr James Adeley acknowledged the need for additional clarification and agreed to adjourn the inquest, underlining the ongoing uncertainty for the family left behind.
As the investigation continues, the tragic case highlights both the risks young people may face while holidaying abroad and the challenges authorities must navigate when probing unexpected deaths far from home. For Jay Slater’s loved ones, the pursuit of answers continues as they try to piece together the final hours of a life lost too soon.