Four years after rugby player and X Factor star Levi Davis went missing in Spain, his mother, Julie Davis, has said she still believes he is alive. With a lack of funding and a police investigation that has nearly stalled, she is no closer to getting answers about what happened to her son.
Police Theory and Last Sighting
The Spanish police's official working theory is that Levi died in a drowning at the Barcelona port on October 30. Eyewitnesses from a nearby cruise ship reported seeing a distressed man in the water that morning, but no one was found missing on the ship, and no further sightings have been reported.
The last confirmed sighting of Levi, then 24, was him leaving The Old Irish Pub on La Rambla, Barcelona, after travelling to the city by ferry from Ibiza on October 29. He was reported missing to Spanish authorities on November 6.
Julie recalled her son's last message to her: "My last interaction was him being on the boat. He sent a video saying, 'Mum, look at the water, it's beautiful out here. Wish you were here'." She described him as "quite happy, jolly and looking forward to life really and his travels."
Family's Frustration and Funding Plea
The Catalan police believe Levi drowned at sea, but the family argue there are many holes in that version of events. They question why no other boats or vehicles were questioned in such a high-traffic area, and how Levi could have ended up in the water while suffering from a painful ligament injury and likely unable to swim.
To obtain answers, the family have been instructed to get a lawyer, which costs £12,000 – money they say they do not have. Julie said: "I can't put into words [how frustrating that is]. My life is basically on hold. It's affecting the whole family."
The family are pleading with the UK government to help finance the ability to ask the Catalan police questions about the evidence and challenge them on "gaps in their investigation." Julie said it is hard to accept the official police line that he likely drowned because "there are a lot of holes in their investigation."
New Development and Career Background
In April 2025, a video Levi previously shared on social media resurfaced, in which he detailed being drug-raped and subsequently blackmailed, with photos and video from the incident used against him. His family insist he was not suicidal at the time, and they believe there could be a link between the extortion and his disappearance, though this line of inquiry has yet to produce concrete evidence.
Levi made his rugby debut for Bath in 2017 and was signed to Worthing Raiders at the time of his disappearance. In 2019, he appeared on The X Factor: Celebrity as part of the group Try Star, alongside Thom Evans and Ben Foden. He also took part in Celebs Go Dating in 2020, the same year he came out as bisexual.
Appeal for Information
Julie has been working with the Missing People charity to keep Levi's name alive and has released a fresh campaign video. She shared a message in case he is able to receive it: "Levi, please reach out. We'll do everything we can to help you. We love you very much and miss you a lot."
Ndella Senghore, from the Missing People Charity, said anyone with information can contact the charity's Helpline, which is free, confidential, and non-judgemental. The helpline can be reached on 116 000 in the UK, or +44 208 392 4545 from Spain, and anonymous sightings can be reported via the Missing People website.
