Jay Slater's mum says tragic teen was 'joy to be around - our hearts are broken'

Jay Slater's mum has remembered her late son as a "joy to be around" in a heartbreaking tribute issued before a coroner delivered a cause of death at the tragic teen's inquest.

Debbie Duncan said hers and her family's lives would "never be the same" without him while providing a statement to the inquest at Preston Coroner's Court. The mum, 55, was among members of the 19-year-old's family who jetted to Tenerife after he went missing, triggering a massive search operation that attracted international attention, last year, and had taken a central role in calling for witnesses to come forward during the inquest's initial stages earlier this year.

With several of Jay's acquaintances, including others who assisted in the search efforts before he was found dead at the bottom of the Juan López ravine in Buenavista del Norte, having now come forward, she told of the devastating impact of her son's death before a coroner issued a cause of death.

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Speaking to the inquest today, Ms Duncan remembered her son as "a joy to be around", adding he had a "wonderful life full of fun" before he died last year.

She said: "Our hearts are broken. Not in a million years could we predict what was going to unfold." She added her son had been "counting down the days" before leaving for Tenerife, where he would attend the NRG Music Festival before he went missing on June 18 last year.

Sjhe continued: "Jay had a wonderful life full of fun and was always a joy to be around. He was always a popular boy and had many, many friends."

She continues: "He loved his family very much and wasn't afraid to show affection." Ms Duncan also described her son's hopes and joys, stating he was excited to finish a bricklaying apprenticeship and loved football. She added the teenager was also learning to drive and "had so many plans and a bright future ahead of him".

She concluded: "Our hearts are broken. Our lives will never be the same without Jay in it. Jay was a loving son, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin and loyal friend to many."

Ultimately, the mum said, Jay "touched the hearts of the nation". Coroner Dr James Adeley ruled today that Jay died last year after falling from a height, with the teen plummeting around 20 to 25 metres into the Tenerife ravine where he was found, leading to an "accidental death".

A coroner ruled today that Jay died while attempting to descend a ravine, and had "died instantly" when he suffered from significant skull trauma.

Dr Adeley said: "Jay fell at a particularly dangerous area in difficult terrain. He fell approximately 20 to 25 metres, suffering skull fractures and brain trauma from which he would have died instantaneously. Jay Dean Slater died an accidental death.

“This is a tragic death of a young man.” He added: "Jay Slater died an accidental death." The coroner also determined there was "no third party involved".