Jay Slater’s post-mortem delivers but extra heartbreak as household face agonising wait

The mystery surrounding the death of Jay Slater has been partially unravelled following an autopsy.

Jay disappeared after a night at a Tenerife music festival, sparking panic among his mates when he didn’t return back at their digs. The 19-year-old’s body was later found in a remote area of Rural de Teno park, a fair distance from where the group had been partying.

Debbie Duncan, Jay’s grief-stricken mother, now has to grapple with the grim details of her son’s demise.

READ MORE: How Jay Slater case gripped the nation – five reasons missing teen had everyone talking

Click here for the latest news from the Daily Star

According to initial autopsy results, Jay took a fatal tumble, suffering multiple broken bones. A Civil Guard spokesperson confirmed: “The result of the preliminary autopsy points to the cause of death being a fall or plunge from height due to the broken bones he suffered.”

The family were reportedly warned against viewing Jay’s remains, which were said to be in a ‘very deteriorated’ state when found.

Yet, amidst the agony, the family has found a sliver of solace in the likelihood that Jay’s death was instantaneous, sparing him prolonged suffering, reports the Mirror.

Debbie, in a heartfelt message on Jay’s GoFundMe page, wrote: “Hello everyone, thank you for all of your kindness, support and condolences in light of the tragic news that Jay’s body has been found. We are overwhelmed with grief and are so grateful for your support.

“The wonderful team from The Netherlands, Signi Zoekhondon, have remained in Spain all week and have continued to support us since Jay was found. They are due to fly home in the coming days and we are so appreciative of their dedication and support.

“We would like to thank LBT Global for their support during this impossible time. We are working with agencies to arrange Jay’s repatriation to the UK and the remaining funds, along with any future donations will be used to help with this if needed and to pay for Jay’s funeral costs back home.

“We want to give our boy the send-off he deserves so please do continue to share and support our fundraiser however you can.”

In the following days, Jay’s bereaved family will be making arrangements to bring his body back to Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire. However, as Spanish police are still conducting their investigations, this could potentially mark the start of another agonising wait.

According to The Sun, the family may face an agonising year-long wait for answers, as UK authorities might need to delay their inquest until the findings from the Spanish police force are finalised. Given the complexity of Jay’s case, a subsequent UK inquest could take even longer.

Newly released images reveal the desolate ravine where Jay’s remains were found following a frantic month-long search. The isolated location, featuring a steep drop and dense vegetation, is nearly impossible to reach on foot.

Rescue teams would have required ropes to access the area, all while dealing with unpredictable weather conditions.

For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.