The family of Stevenage’s Conor Spraggs, who tragically died in Ibiza this month, have said they have been “truly touched” by the love and support they have received from the community.

Conor, 23, died in the town of San Antonio at 3.30am local time on August 12 – hours before he had been set to fly home – after reportedly being involved in a fight with other holidaymakers near the seafront.

Hundreds of people have given money to help bring his body home and pay for his funeral, with more than £14,000 donated to the fund in all.

In a joint statement to the Comet this week, the Spraggs family said they have been overwhelmed by the way the community has rallied around them since the tragedy.

“Conor was a funny, loving and genuine son, grandson, brother, uncle and friend, and his untimely death has devastated us all,” they said.

“As a family we have been overwhelmed by the amount of love and generosity we have received from so many people, both near and far.

“We would like to thank you all from the bottom of our hearts for the kind donations made to the JustGiving page that was set up by his cousin Bradley Pearce to bring Conor home.

“The messages left with the donations and personal messages that our family have received have meant so much, and we have found comfort in knowing how loved Conor was by so many people.

“Thanks to you all, Conor is now back home and we can start making funeral arrangements, which will be announced in due course.

“We are truly touched by the amount of love and support we have been shown, and we are taking comfort in how loved Conor was and the efforts being made to ensure he will never be forgotten.

“Many thanks, again to you all.”

Conor, a former student of Stevenage’s Thomas Alleyne Academy, worked with luxury furniture and was summed up by Bradley as “a gentle soul with a heart of gold”.

Six British citizens, aged between 18 and 21, were arrested on the day of his death and have appeared in court in Spain.