Jay slater inquest issues explanation on death and 'important' injury update

THE TEENAGER WAS FOUND A MONTH AFTER GOING MISSING IN TENERIFE AFTER A MASSIVE SEARCH WAS LAUNCHED 11:25, 21 May 2025Updated 11:51, 21 May 2025 An injury to Jay Slater's head has been

descriped as the "most important one in understanding why Jay died" by a patholoist. The tragic teenager's inquest was held at Preston Coroner's Court today (Wednesday,

May 21) with his family in attendance. Jay, 19, sparked a widespread search in Tenerife after he disappeared on June 17, 2024, while attempting to walk back to his accomodation following a

missed bus. READ MORE British woman arrested after '£1.2m of cannabis found in luggage' speaks from prison The apprentice bricklayer from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, was tragically

found dead after a month-long search. Home Office pathologist Dr Richard Shepherd said he believed Jay had been lying where he was found for around 28 days and had suffered several injuries

which were consistent was a 'fall from height'. Article continues below He said an inury to his head was "by far the most important one in understanding why Jay died". He

provided a medical cause death as 'head injury' - a 'severe fracture'. He told the court about how long Jay had been dead for when he was found: "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." Jay's body was identified using a 'palm print', the inquest heard. Cheryl McGowan, Lancashire Constabulary's senior fingerprint expert, said she was

confident that 'it's definitely a positive identification' after comparing it to records held by police. Article continues below The county's senior coroner, Dr James

Adeley, had also explained to the court that Jay's friends who were with him in Tenerife, Lucy Law and Brad Hargreaves, were not present at the inquest. He said: "We can't

find them. They have denied who they are and we have had police looking for them but we can't find them."