Court: Jay Slater’s death “caused by fall in rocky area” in Tenerife

The death of British teenager Jay Slater in Tenerife was the result of “trauma consistent with a fall in rocky terrain,” officials say.

A Spanish court confirmed that fingerprint tests showed that the body found in Masca on Monday was that of the missing 19-year-old. Documents belonging to Mr Slater were also found on the body.

The charity LBT Global had previously confirmed that Mr Slater’s belongings had also been discovered near his last known whereabouts.

Jay Slater’s mother Debbie Duncan said in a statement that confirmation of her son’s death was the “worst news,” adding: “I just can’t believe this could happen to my beautiful boy. Our hearts are broken.”

The teenager, from Oswaldtwistle in Lancashire, was last seen on June 17 after visiting an Airbnb rented by two people he had been with at the NRG music festival on the island.

The Supreme Court of the Canary Islands said in a statement: “We have a positive identification and other data: fingerprints show that the body is that of Jay Slater and that death was caused by trauma consistent with a fall in a rocky area.”

LBT Global’s Matthew Searle was with Slater’s mother when they heard the news that the body had been identified as her son’s. He said the family was devastated.

He said: “The announcement appears to confirm that Jay died from injuries consistent with an accidental fall from a considerable height.”

Mr Searle said the charity, which helps families in cases of missing people abroad, would support the family “to make this terrible time as easy as possible”.

He added: “We are now working with the family to determine the next steps to bring Jay home, get his belongings back and lay him to rest.”

An earlier court statement today said that documents found with the body discovered on Monday belonged to the bricklayer’s apprentice.

“It is confirmed that the documents found with the body found yesterday in the mountains of Masca belong to Jay Slater,” it said.

It went on to say that “everything indicates that it was an accidental fall,” but the results of the official investigation into the death would take even more time.

Mr Slater’s body was discovered by members of a mountain rescue team from the Spanish Guardia Civil near the village of Masca.

Spanish police released video footage of rescue workers climbing rock faces and fighting through undergrowth during their search.

Part of the clip showed two members of the search team being rescued from the area by helicopter after the body was found.

They said Mr Slater may have fallen in the steep and inaccessible area where he was found.

Jo Cann, from Hertfordshire, is holidaying in Tenerife, close to where Jay Slater was last seen before getting in his car and driving north towards the mountains.

From the busy Playa de El Bobo beach, she said it was “really sad” news.

“I don’t even want to imagine what they are going through,” Ms Cann added.

Earlier, a friend of Jay Slater paid tribute to the “happiest, smiling person in the room” when it was announced that a body had been found in Tenerife.

Lucy Law, the last known person to speak to Mr Slater in a phone call on June 17, paid tribute to him on her Instagram page.

She said: “I honestly have no words. You were always the happiest, smileiest person in the room, you were one of a kind Jay and we will miss you more than you know.”

In her tribute, Ms. Law continued, “I am sure you will have your dancing shoes polished and ready and waiting for us all.”

“We all love you, buddy. Fly high.”

Accrington and Rossendale College, where Mr Slater completed an apprenticeship as a bricklayer, said it was “deeply saddened” by the news of his death.

It went on to say that Mr Slater had been a “hard-working apprentice” at the college “who had a bright future ahead of him”.

“Our thoughts and condolences go out to his family, friends and all who knew and loved him.”

The head teachers of the primary school and the secondary school in Oswaldtwistle, which Mr Slater attended, dedicated a joint eulogy to him.

Andrew Williams, headteacher of Rhyddings High School, and James McBride, headteacher of West End Primary School, said: “All members of our school communities, both past and present, extend our sincere condolences and deepest sympathy to those who knew Jay.

“As a devoted mother, we know Debbie would never have given up the search for Jay. We are thinking of her and the family and praying for them during this difficult time.”

Sarah Smith, MP for Hyndburn and Haslingden, said the news was “heartbreaking”.

She added: “This is the worst news a parent can ever receive.”