Jay slater 'had cocktail of drugs in system' as inquest told cause of death

THE 19-YEAR-OLD WAS FOUND DEAD LAST JULY WITH 'A SEVERE FRACTURE OF THE HEAD' AFTER GOING MISSING FROM THE NRG MUSIC FESTIVAL IN TENERIFE IN JUNE. 13:23, 21 May 2025Updated 15:26,

21 May 2025 Jay Slater was found dead with a mix of drugs in his system after he vanished in Tenerife, an inquest into his death has heard. The 19-year-old from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire,

died from multiple injuries consistent with a fall on rocky terrain, according to findings presented at Preston Crown Court. His body was discovered near Masca village in July 2024,

following his disappearance after Tenerife's NRG music festival in June. The Spanish Civil Guard suggested Jay might have fallen in the treacherous area where he was located. The case

attracted significant media coverage until his remains were found, reports the Mirror. Home Office pathologist Dr Richard Shepherd reported at the inquest that decomposition had set in by

the time he examined Jay's body. Despite the decomposition, Dr Shepherd confirmed the cause of death as a head injury, with a CT scan revealing "a severe fracture of the

head". Article continues below Dr Shepherd described the state of the body: "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." He concluded while Jay sustained several injuries, the head trauma was the most

significant, indicating "the application of considerable force" and consistent with a substantial fall. At the inquest, Dr Shepherd revealed Jay's head injury was so severe

that survival was highly unlikely. He said: "The injury is so severe that death was either instantaneous or extremely quick." Spanish officials also determined a serious traumatic

brain injury was the cause of Jay's death. Furthermore, toxicologist Dr Stephanie Martin informed the inquest of multiple drugs found in Jay's body and explained while post-mortem

drug testing is "extremely challenging", it was evident ecstasy was present at his time of death along with a cocaine metabolite linked to concurrent alcohol use. Dr Martin posited

the drugs were likely consumed "likely within a day or so of his death", although precise timing couldn't be established. Spanish authorities conducted separate toxicology

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"The only difference between our results and their results is that they found ketamine and its metabolites." Article continues below Dr Martin suggested the discrepancy between the

UK and Spanish test results regarding ketamine could be attributed to "the time between the two post mortem investigations". Dr Martin indicated while the evidence implies ecstasy

was consumed within "a day or so" before Jay's death, "ketamine had been used over a much longer period". The inquest is ongoing.