Jay Slater's devastating final moments detailed in harrowing autopsy detail

The hunt for missing teenager Jay Slater ended in heartbreak when his 'lifeless body' was found by police .

For a month, Spanish authorities scoured the harsh landscape of Parque Rural de Teno nature reserve in Tenerife, near where the 19-year-old's phone last signalled . His mother Debbie Duncan, father Warren Slater, and older brother Zak all joined the desperate search for their 'beautiful son' , but sadly it was too late.

The young apprentice bricklayer, from Lancashire, disappeared while on his first holiday abroad with friends . He had been enjoying the three-day NRG music festival before continuing his night out with two British men.

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In the early hours of June 17, he made his way to their Airbnb in the secluded village of Masca.

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Just before 9am on that tragic Monday, he left the holiday home and began the journey back to his accommodation in the south of the island, thought to be an 11-hour walk after missing the local bus. He alerted his friends, who he had been staying with, that he was thirsty and lost, shortly before his phone battery died.

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After a gruelling search through thick undergrowth and sweltering temperatures in steep ravines, Spanish police announced on Monday, July 15, that they had found the body of a young man along with Jay's clothing and belongings near a phone mast station. It was a painfully deteriorated state, but fingerprints later confirmed it as Jay Slater's.

The central focus now is to ascertain the cause of his demise.

An initial post-mortem examination suggested that Jay may have experienced a disastrous fall, given the numerous broken bones observed. A representative of the Civil Guard revealed: "The body of the man located yesterday has bee n identified of that as Jay Slater through fingerprint comparison and identification. 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."

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Through the medium of charity LBT Global, Mr Slater's mother, Debbie Duncan expressed her utter disbelief and anguish over this tragic turn of events stating: "I just can't believe this could happen to my beautiful boy. Our hearts are broken."

The 55-year-old mother of two described the situation as "the worst news" while she was awaiting further updates with the British Embassy staff. In her raw pain, she added: "I just can't believe it."

The Mail Online has reported that those close to Jay have found a bit of solace in the fact that his passing was likely instant. Ex-detective Mark Williams-Thomas, who lent a hand in the hunt, has given some insight into the ease of taking a tumble in such 'dangerous terrain'.

The investigator, who also delved into Nicola Bulley's case, previously told the Mirror: "The area where the body was found is around a 20-minute walk from the pin drop location.

"The terrain is rough and hazardous and having now seen the video of the search team on Monday morning and that the helicopter was in the same area on Sunday afternoon where the body was recovered, it is clear to see how treacherous and dangerous it is - a slip or loss of footing would prove fatal."