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AYUB QASSIM AND STEVEN ROCCAS CANNOT BE TRACED 15:08, 21 May 2025 Jay Slater's mum, Debbie Duncan, has made a desperate plea in front of an inquest hearing into her 19-year-old

son's death this afternoon. An inquest into the death of Jay Slater is being held at Preston Coroners Court today (May 21). The inquest has already been halted today as the teen's

friends, who he travelled to Tenerife with where he died last year, "can't be located." Jay, an apprentice bricklayer from Oswaldtwistle, had flown to Tenerife with friends

last June to attend the NRG music festival in Playa de las Americas. On the evening of June 16, 2024, Jay spent the night partying at the Papagayo nightclub in Playa de las Americas. He

later travelled to the remote village of Masca to an apartment with Ayub Qassim and his friend ‘Rocky’ afterwards. Shortly before 9am he left the £40-a-night Airbnb apartment and set out to

walk back to his accommodation in the south of the island, believed to be an 11-hour trek after missing the local bus. He phoned his friend, Lucy, who he had been staying with, that he was

thirsty, had no clue where he was and his phone was about to run out of battery, shortly before his phone died. Later that day he was reported missing, sparking a huge search. The inquest

into Jay's death was put on hold this morning as it's understood a friend who "couldn't be located" is currently in Tenerife. Police attempted to serve a witness

summons on Lucy Law, one of two friends who travelled to Tenerife with Jay, but were unable to locate her. Ms Swarbrick said it was understood that Lucy is currently on the Canary island.

Bradley Hargreaves, who travelled to Tenerife with Jay and Lucy, is also currently on holiday, which was booked last October, the inquest has also heard. The inquest also heard how

Coroner's officer Alice Swarbrick made extensive attempts to track down witness Ayub Qassim and and Steven Roccas, who had rented the Airbnb Jay went back to after the NRG music

festival, however neither cannot be located, LancsLive reported. When Jay's mum Debbie was asked if she was content for their initial statements to be read into evidence during the

hearing, she pleaded with the coroner to bring "these people in front of us". The coroner's office has already gone to significant lengths to locate the two men, including

asking the Metropolitan Police to serve witness summons on them, but their efforts have so far been unsuccessful. Debbie told the coroner: "I know you tried to locate them but how can

we ever get any understanding? We know he died, we know he had an accident, but from him leaving that holiday resort to going up there...? "We read the statements. There are things that

we want to question. We want these people in front of us. My son went on holiday and didn't come back so there are questions we need to ask. Please." The coroner called a short

break. This could mean that the inquest is adjourned to allow for further attempts to locate the two men. Article continues below _WE WILL BE BRINGING YOU LIVE UPDATES FROM PRESTON

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