Jay Slater's tragic final moments finally revealed in harrowing details

Jay Slater's final moments have been revealed during the inquest into his death. The inquest heard that the 19-year-old suffered a severe brain injury after a "heavy fall from height" in his final moments. Toxicologist Dr Stephanie Martin also revealed Mr Slater had ecstasy in his system at the time of his death,

Mr Slater, an apprentice bricklayer, had flown to Tenerife with friends last June to attend the NRG music festival in Playa de las Americas. After the event Jay travelled with two men to an Airbnb in the Rural de Teno national park in the early hours of June 17. He decided to walk back to the apartment he was staying in with his friends.

He called one, saying he was lost, thirsty, and his phone had one per cent battery, but never arrived at the apartment. He was reported missing and his disappearance sparked widespread media interest - as well as a slew of social media conspiracy theories.

After a month-long search, his body was found in a ravine on July 15 last year, near to where his phone last pinged. A post-mortem examination concluded he died of traumatic head injuries, consistent with a fall from height.

As Mr Slater's body was returned to Lancashire for his funeral, Lancashire's Senior Coroner Dr James Adeley opened an inquest, and the final hearing is taking place today (Wednesday May 21).

, during the proceedings, Home Office pathologist Dr Richard Shepherd provided medical evidence suggesting Jay had suffered a 'heavy fall from height' and that the 'devastating' effects would have been 'immediate'.

"The pattern of injuries is entirely consistent with a heavy fall from height," Dr Shepherd said. He added: "The injury is so severe that I have no doubt at all that he would have been rendered immediately unconscious... death was either instantaneous or extremely quick."

The pathologist identified the medical cause of death as a head injury, noting that a CT scan revealed a 'severe fracture of the head'. Spanish authorities also determined that the cause of Jay's death was a severe traumatic brain injury, he said.

Mr Slater's body was discovered in a decomposed state, with 'extensive changes' after 28 days in a hot environment, according to Dr Shepherd.

A toxicology report found there was ecstasy in Mr Slater's system, while a cocaine metabolite was also present, suggesting both cocaine and alcohol had been taken. Dr Stephanie Martin, toxicologist, told the inquest it was impossible to say when the drugs were taken but it was 'likely within a day or so of his death'.

The Spanish authorities also carried out their own toxicology tests. Dr Martin said: "The only difference between our results and their results is that they found ketamine and its metabolites."

Dr Martin says that one "possible explanation" for why the Spanish authorities found ketamine in Jay's system but toxicology tests carried out in the UK did not is "the time between the two post mortem investigations".

The toxicologist added that while the evidence suggests that ecstasy had been used within "a day or so" before Jay's death, "ketamine had been used over a much longer period".

The inquest continues...