The inquest into the death of British teenager Jay Slater was dramatically paused today after contact was made with a key missing witness.
Jay, 19, was found dead in a remote ravine in Tenerife last summer after vanishing following a music festival. A four-week search ended in tragedy when his body was discovered in rugged terrain near Masca.
Proceedings at Preston Coroner’s Court were unexpectedly interrupted shortly after midday when it emerged that one of three previously unreachable witnesses had finally made contact.
Teen vanished after late-night trip to remote Airbnb
Jay, a young bricklayer from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, had been holidaying on the Spanish island with friends. On June 17, 2024, after partying at the NRG music festival in Playa de las Americas, he travelled with two men to a remote Airbnb in the village of Masca — more than 30 miles from his accommodation.
In the early hours, Jay reportedly set off alone on foot, making a desperate phone call to his friend Lucy Law at around 8am, saying he was lost, had no water, and that his phone battery was about to die.
That call was the last time anyone heard from him.
Body found weeks later in ravine
Jay’s disappearance sparked a major search operation involving helicopters, dogs, drones, and local mountain rescue teams. His body was eventually located in the steep Juan López ravine on July 15 — almost a month after he vanished.
Spanish authorities ruled out foul play, but Jay’s family have raised concerns about inconsistencies in witness accounts and the lack of clarity around his final hours.
Coroner told key witnesses missing
At today’s inquest, it emerged that three critical witnesses had not been located by British police ahead of the hearing. Coroner’s officer Alice Swarbrick told the court that attempts to serve a summons on Lucy Law — who received Jay’s final call — had failed, though she was understood to still be in Tenerife.
A second witness, Brad Hargreaves, who had also travelled to the island with Jay, was said to be on a pre-booked holiday and could not be found.
The third missing individual, Ayub Qassim, had rented the Airbnb in Masca where Jay was last seen. Police reportedly requested help from the Metropolitan Police to track him down, but he too could not be located.
Inquest paused after possible contact made
Just after midday, senior coroner Dr James Adeley paused proceedings after it was revealed that contact had finally been established with one of the three missing witnesses. It is not yet known which individual has now made themselves available.
Dr Adeley had earlier stated: “These individuals are crucial to understanding Jay’s movements on the night he disappeared. Their absence today is a significant obstacle.”
Speculation and unanswered questions
The inquest follows months of speculation online about Jay’s final hours. Spanish police found no evidence of violence or criminal involvement, but many questions remain about why the teenager travelled to such a remote area in the first place — and what happened in the hours before he was last seen.
Toxicology results are expected to be submitted later in the hearing, with earlier reports suggesting that traces of several substances were found in Jay’s system. However, their significance is still unclear.
Further hearings expected
Today’s inquest is expected to resume once statements or appearances can be arranged with the relevant witnesses. Jay’s family, who have been present in court, have consistently called for answers about the circumstances of his death.
The investigation remains ongoing, and the coroner has not yet ruled out further court sessions or possible future inquiries in Spain.
