Grieving family and former Wild Boars teammates held a religious ceremony for the Thai cave survivor who died in an apparent accident in the UK.

Mother Thanaporn Phromthep joined friends and relatives as they performed religious rites for Duangphet 'Dom' Phromthep, 17, at the Wat Phra That Doi Wao temple in Chiang Rai province, Thailand, on February 16. Former coach Nopparat Kanthawong, 41, also joined the ceremony.

As Duangphet's body has not yet been repatriated, the young man's parents took his pictures, clothes, and shoes to the memorial service.

His favourite Nike trainers and a colourful t-shirt were laid on the ground below his photograph and dozens of bunches of flowers.

In accordance with Buddhist beliefs, they prayed for Dom's spirit to 'come back home'.

Temple abbott Phra Kru Prayut Jetiyanukarn said: 'Everyone was devastated when they heard the news of Duangphet's passing. He was only 17 years old. It's been hard on his parents and friends.

'It had always been his dream since he was little to travel abroad and play football.'

Duangphet died on February 14 following an apparent accident in his dorm at the Brooke House College football academy in Market Harborough, Leicestershire. The cause of his sudden death was not explained by officials in the UK.

Duangphet was the former captain of the Wild Boars football team in Thailand. The group was rescued from the Tham Luang Cave in June 2018, following an intense mission that gripped the world.

Duangphet received a scholarship from the Sport Education Project and the Zico Foundation by Thai football legend Kiatisuk 'Zico' Senamuang.