**Friends Urged Jay Slater Not to Attempt Trek Before His Tragic Disappearance, Inquest Told**
A Lancashire teenager who vanished while on holiday in Tenerife ignored appeals from friends not to make a perilous walk through the island’s mountainous terrain, a coroner has heard. The ongoing inquest into the death of 19-year-old Jay Slater has revealed further details surrounding the events leading to his disappearance and eventual death, deepening the sense of loss and confusion for his grieving family and friends.
Jay Slater had travelled from his hometown of Oswaldtwistle to the Spanish island in June last year, intending to enjoy the renowned NRG music festival with his friends. He was last seen after attending the event at the Papagayo nightclub in Playa de las Americas, before accompanying two men to an Airbnb property in the remote mountain village of Masca—far from his own lodgings.
The court heard that in the early hours following the party, Mr Slater attempted a hazardous journey back to his apartment. Despite being unfamiliar with the rugged landscape and reportedly under the influence of drugs and alcohol, he began what would have been a fourteen-hour trek through the mountains. Concerned friends made repeated attempts to dissuade him, both over the phone and through messages, urging him to return to safety before the summer heat intensified.
During the inquest proceedings at Preston Coroner’s Court, friend Bradley Geoghegan testified that Mr Slater had consumed ecstasy, ketamine, cocaine, and alcohol during the hours leading up to his disappearance. He recounted a video call with Jay that morning, describing him as still noticeably affected by substances and in an increasingly precarious state. “I said put your maps on to see how far you were. It was like a 14-hour walk or an hour drive. I said, ‘Get a taxi back’, then he just goes, ‘I will ring you back’,” Mr Geoghegan explained to the court.
Lucy Law, another companion, had also spoken to Mr Slater over the phone shortly after 8:30 a.m. She described a sense of mounting panic as Jay reported being “literally in the middle of the mountains,” surrounded only by empty wilderness. In what proved to be a haunting exchange, he asked Ms Law whether cactus plants were poisonous, lamenting that he desperately needed water.
Another friend, Brandon Hodgson, provided a statement to the Spanish police, confirming Jay had briefly video-called him that morning. Jay was said to be “laughing and joking”, appearing “out of his mind” while admitting his phone battery was nearly dead. Mr Hodgson described Jay as having a “child-like” mentality, a characterisation that only sharpened the tragedy of the situation.
Spanish authorities conducted an extensive search for Jay Slater after he was reported missing on 18 June. The operation lasted for 29 days and involved helicopters, drones, and mountain rescue teams with search dogs. On 15 July, Mr Slater’s body was eventually discovered at the bottom of a perilous ravine in the Juan Lopez area—a remote and virtually inaccessible part of the island, according to rescue officials. Notably, his personal belongings, including an Armani bag containing his phone and nitrous oxide canisters, were found some 20 metres above his body.
The inquest heard from Spanish investigators who stated they could not determine what compelled Mr Slater to leave the relative safety of the road and attempt such a treacherous descent into the ravine. It was speculated that he may have mistaken a distant view of the sea for a reachable beach, desperately searching for help in unfamiliar territory. Authorities believe he slipped on the jagged rocks, suffering fatal injuries in what is now being treated as an accidental fall.
The post-mortem, carried out by Home Office pathologist Dr Richard Shepherd, confirmed that Jay Slater died as a result of catastrophic head injuries. There was no evidence of assault or restraint, and drug testing confirmed intoxication with several substances.
Mr Slater’s mother, Debbie Duncan, who has pushed for the inquest to resume in the wake of witness non-attendance, remains resolute in her search for answers. The family continues to grapple with unanswered questions about Jay’s tragic final hours, emphasising the need for closure.
As the inquest continues, it is clear that the events leading to Jay Slater’s death have left a lasting impact on all involved—raising important questions about travel safety, the vulnerability of young people abroad, and the enduring pain left in the wake of such tragedies.