Jay Slater's family is preparing to "make the hardest journey of their lives" as they hope to repatriate his body within the next 48 hours .
The teenager's GoFundMe page hit the £70,000 mark today, smashing the original £30,000 target, and his mum Debbie Duncan, 55, has thanked supporters for their generosity and vowed to give her son “ the send-off he deserves ".
But she and the rest of his family have been working with authorities in Tenerife to get the green light to repatriate his body. Now, it is understood it will be allowed to return to the UK within the next two days - and relatives will "make the hardest journey of their lives" as they join it.
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A source close to the family said: "Taking Jay's body back will be the hardest journey of their lives. But they know it's something they have to do. Their focus and aim is to give Jay the most fitting send-off possible and to celebrate and remember his life."
Jay 's family were forced to defend themselves yet again as they came under attack from online trolls as his GoFundMe page hit an incredible £70,000. The Sun reports. The fundraiser reached £60,000 in an outpouring of support after Jay's body was found on Monday.
Speaking about the repatriation, the family source added: "Officials are literally dealing with a final couple of matters and then Jay's family will be able to take him back home and to start planning for the funeral."
In the UK, friends have so far held an emotional vigil to the apprentice bricklayer, whose body was discovered in a ravine after a 29-day search in Tenerife . Pals gathered at the West End Methodist Church, in Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, ahead of a prayer meeting in Jay’s memory. The balloons carried messages saying "you’ll be missed" and “fly high Jay ”. There were others showing Jay’s age, 19.
In a statement released on Thursday on the 'Get Jay Slater Home' GoFundMe page, she said: "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."
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She added: "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 continue to share and support our fundraiser however you can."
The family haven't yet commented on the fundraiser reaching £70,000 mark. They have, however, been criticised by web trolls who have left "vast amounts of hateful content online" since the GoFundMe page was created.
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