Jay Slater injuries are compatible with accidental fall, authorities confirm
Spanish authorities have confirmed that injuries Jay Slater sustained are compatible with an accidental fall.
Court officials confirmed earlier today (16 July) that the body found in the search for Jay Slater on Monday (15 July) is that of missing British teenager Jay Slater.
The 19-year-old first went missing on 17 June, after heading to the Airbnb of some people he just met the previous night while partying on the island of Tenerife.
He was last heard from that morning when he called a friend and told her that his phone was almost dead and that he 'needed a drink' after setting off on the 11-hour trek.
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Charity LBT Global revealed that his remains were found with his clothes and possessions near his last known location on Monday.
According to LBC, a female investigating judge previously explained: “In reference to the British citizen Jay Slater, the autopsy with the full identification of the body and the causes of death will take time, because the body was very deteriorated.
“But there is very little doubt about both the identity and the etiology.
"The documentation he was carrying corresponds to that of Jay Slater and everything is pointing to an accidental fall, although that is unofficial pending the final reports."
Confirmation then followed from Spanish authorities that the fingerprints examined in the post-mortem belonged to Jay, and a court spokesperson added that his injuries sustained were compatible with an accidental fall from a cliff.
The court spokesperson revealed: "We have a positive ID... Fingerprinting confirms that the body belongs to Jay Slater and the death was due to multiple traumas compatible with a fall in the mountainous area."
The body was found in a remote area of the Spanish island yesterday morning by a Civil Guard mountain rescue group.
His mother, Debbie Duncan, released a statement today, saying that this tragic development is the 'worst news'.
In a statement released via LBT Global she said: "I just can’t believe it – we’re here with the embassy staff waiting for an update and now it’s come – the worst news.
"I just can’t believe this could happen to my beautiful boy. Our hearts are broken."
Jay Slater's disappearance: Timeline of key moments
Sunday 16 June
Jay attends the New Rave Generation music festival with friends at Papagayo nightclub in the tourist resort of Playa de las Americas in the south of the island.
Monday 17 June
In the early hours of Monday, Jay goes to stay in an apartment in the north of the island with people he had met over the course of the night.
7.30am
Jay posts a picture on Snapchat from the doorway of the property he stayed at overnight, tagged as being in Rural de Teno park.
8.30am
He calls his friend, Lucy Law, telling her he had attempted to walk back to his accommodation after missing his bus – a journey that would take more than ten hours.
He said he had 'cut his leg' on a cactus and had 'no idea where he was'. He also said his phone was on one percent battery. His last known location is Rural de Teno park.
9.04am
He is reported missing.
Tuesday 18 June
After friends spend the previous day searching to no avail, local police and mountain rescue teams scour Rural de Teno park for Jay.
His family fly out to Tenerife to join the search.
Wednesday 19 June
The search is temporarily moved to the Los Cristianos area in the south of the island due to a potential lead, but this amounts to nothing and the search returns north.
Jay’s mum Debbie Duncan says she fears her son had 'been taken against his will'.
Sunday 23 June
TV detective Mark Williams-Thomas offers his team's expertise in the search for Jay. He writes on X: "If [Jay's family] give me total access and with feet on the ground I will very quickly be able to say if his disappearance is him alone or if it has third party involvement."
Sunday 30 June
The Tenerife Civil Guard announce they are ending the search for Jay after 13 days, but the investigation remains open and they will follow up any new leads. Jay's family vow to continue the search themselves.
Monday 15 July
Police announce that human remains of a 'young man' have been found.
Tuesday 16 July
The body found is confirmed to be Jay Slater following an autopsy by Spanish authorities.
Topics: Jay Slater, UK News, World News
Joshua Nair