Mum’s tribute as teen’s death ruled accident

JAY Slater's mother has told an inquest into her son’s death he had “touched the hearts of the nation’:

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Debbie Duncan paid tribute to the 19-year-old, whose death from head injuries was ruled an accident after a two-day hearing at Preston Coroner’s Court, ending yesterday.

Coroner Dr James Adeley ruled Mr Slater, who had taken a number of drugs, had fallen in a dangerous ravine, suffering un-survivable head injuries while try to walk back to his holiday let across mountainous terrain in Tenerife, in July last year.

Ms Duncan, accompanied by the teenager's father, Warren Slater, wept as she told the court her son was “full of fun and was always a joy to be around” with many friends.