Jay Slater's mum issues new appeal for help after return to UK
Debbie Duncan said "I just can't believe this could happen to my beautiful boy" in the wake of his death
PA/ITN
Jay Slater's mother Debbie Duncan has asked for more public donations to a crowdfunding appeal in a drive to give her son "the send-off he deserves".
Duncan urged the public to "continue to share and support our fundraiser however you can" - though the appeal had raised more than £60,000 by Thursday afternoon.
The crowd-funding drive on GoFundMe, called "Get Jay Slater Home", had been set up by the 19-year-old's friend Lucy Law shortly after his disappearance on the morning of June 17.
As the search for the teenager from Oswaldtwistle in Lancashire rolled on, donations flooded in from around the world - but Duncan has pushed for more in a new statement this afternoon.
Debbie Duncan said she was grateful for the mass public support
PALike prior public comments, the statement came through missing persons charity LBT Global - but Duncan praised the efforts of specialist teams from the Netherlands which supported the Slater family after Jay's body was found.
The appeal read: "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.
MORE IN THE AFTERMATH OF JAY SLATER'S DISCOVERY:
The crowdfunding appeal has raised more than £60,000
GoFundMe
"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."
Jay Slater went missing after travelling to Tenerife for a music festival with friends
X / ReutersSlater had been confirmed dead by the Canary Islands' High Court after a near month-long hunt for the teenager.
Having disappeared on June 17 after attending a music festival on the holiday island of Tenerife, the mystery over his whereabouts sparked a frenzy of popular and media interest around the globe.
Detectives, friends and family members had flocked to the island in the hopes of tracking down the apprentice bricklayer, with Snapchat locations, Rolex thefts and Airbnb rentals all being called into question as the days dragged on.
But on Monday July 15, authorities found the 19-year-old's body - whose identity was confirmed via documentation and DNA - near the village of Masca, a short distance from his last known location.