The family of the Thai cave footballer who died in the UK joined his funeral by video call on Tuesday.

Relatives of Duangphet 'Dom' Phromthep, 17, watched from their home in Chiang Rai, northern Thailand as Buddhist monks joined the cremation in Leicester.

The funeral was arranged in accordance with religious beliefs, with four monks invited to perform a chant for the young footballer's repose.

Duangphet's body was cremated shortly after the ceremony and his ashes will be flown back to his motherland.

Dom's mum, Thanaporn Phromthep, said the family will wait for the ashes to arrive in Thailand before holding another funeral at the Wat Phra That Doi Wao temple.

She said: 'It still doesn't feel real, but I will have to accept reality and try to live normally. I haven't been able to smile since I found out. My heart is broken.'

Thanaporn also thanked the Thai Embassy, the Zico Foundation, and the Brooke House College Football Academy for organising Duangphet's funeral in the UK.

Duangphet died on February 14 in an apparent accident in his dorm at the Brooke House College football academy in Market Harborough, Leicestershire. The cause of his sudden death has not been revealed.

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. He travelled to the UK to pursue his dream of becoming a professional footballer.