THE FAMILY of an adored mother have said they will ‘never give up on their fight for justice’ after she was killed in a horrific go-karting accident while on holiday.

Those close to Kelly Marie Slater, who died after losing control of her go-kart hours after arriving in Tenerife, say the much-loved Burnley teaching assistant was killed as a result of health and safety negligence.

The mum-of-one was on a getaway with her partner John Wilcock in Costa Adeje when she was flung several metres through the air after losing control of the vehicle and crashing into a barrier.

An inquest into the 33-year-old’s death on December 27, 2017, heard how staff at Karting Las Americas had failed to give the couple a safety briefing, allowed Ms Slater to drive in flip-flops and had not ensured her helmet – which came off during the accident – was fitted properly.

The karts were also not fitted with seatbelts or safety restraints.

There was also speculation around whether there were rubber tyres, which are placed to act as a crash barrier, around the whole circumference of the track, with family and friends worrying there were no tyres on the section of the track Ms Slater’s go-kart crashed.

Speaking at the Burnley Magistrates Court inquest, family and friends said there was a ‘severe disregard for safety’ shown by staff at the track.

Mr Wilcock said: “I remember the helmets not being very good, and there were no seatbelts or a briefing.

“I also remember the karts being much more powerful than I expected – I’ve been a few times in the UK and they were different.

“We started off and Kelly was ahead of me. I know she had her phone in her hand and was filming. She was going in a straight line and then I saw her hitting a barrier and going up in the air.”

The couple had been on their first lap of the track when the accident took place.

Mr Wilcock added: “All we wanted to do was have some fun on holiday.”

Coroner Richard Taylor told the inquest that the couple had arrived just hours before the accident took place and had checked into their hotel before going down to the hotel bar for a drink. After one drink they decided to get a taxi down to the front when they happened across the go-karting track and decided to go in.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, Mr Taylor said: “I don’t in anyway criticise Kelly, she’s on holiday and having a good time, she wanted to have fun.

“The number of people that have turned up today is a testament to how much she was loved and is missed.

“There are clear safety concerns here – the helmets, the shoes she was wearing, no seatbelts. Questions have been asked about the condition of the kart and the condition of the track’s surface.

“Her partner remembers it being a big course and it was quiet. They were driving side-by-side and at some point she took out her phone. It is clear she was having a good time but while using the phone she lost control of the go-kart and suffered injuries that proved fatal.”

Speaking after the inquest Kelly’s mum Barbara Moffat and best friend Lauren Hartley said they will ‘never give up trying to get justice’ for Ms Slater.

Mrs Hartley said: “Kelly died as a result of health and safety negligence and we feel it has all been covered up. So many people using the track are unaware of the fact that there was an accident there on that day and that a girl lost her life.

“We have noticed so many inconsistencies between the police report, witness statements and what he staff at the track have said.

“We haven’t been made aware of any reports or investigations taking place into the condition of the go-karts or the track, it has all fallen upon us to look into this.”

Mrs Hartley went on to say that the centre was open and running as usual the next day, with staff posting pictures and videos on Facebook as though nothing had ever happened.

She said: “We’ve not been supported by the Spanish authorities and we have never heard a word from the go-karting place. At the time we needed it the most they showed no compassion.

“Two years this has been going on and we’ve had no answers, no justice, nothing. We were hoping the inquest would answer some questions but it hasn’t.

“We don’t know where to go from here and that is the hardest thing.

“But I will never give up, I’ll always fight for her."