Private investigators searching from missing rugby player Levi Davis say he was fleeing criminals and may have tragically drowned at a Barcelona port.
The 24-year-old former professional sportsman and X Factor star was last seen leaving an Irish pub in the Spanish city on October 29 in CCTV footage obtained by the Mirror after arriving from Ibiza.
But friends and family have not heard from him since.
Levi's family then hired a private investigator in a bid to find him, offering £10,000 to anyone with information leading to him being found.
But now it’s been claimed that Levi was convinced he was being chased by criminals.
An unnamed member of the team of private detectives told La Vanguardia newspaper: “Davis came to Barcelona fleeing from these criminals."
Levi's devastated mother Julie Davis appeared on ITV's Good Morning Britain where she had to be consoled by host Susanna Reid.
She said: “Just before he left there was a message that, I don’t know, maybe powers up above, that said to me, ‘Give him a hug because you just don’t know if it’s going to be your last.'”
The mum also went on to share that she was frustrated by the language barrier between herself and the Spanish police.
Julie said: “I’ve had a lot of support from family and friends and of course the private investigators have been working very hard and the Spanish police have done their bit as well.
“But where I think it’s been difficult is not having the information come through.
"There’s the language barrier of course and having to go via the British consulate before and then the feedback with news updates is very slow, very slow.
“I know the British consulate are pressing but in terms of the updates and the CCTV coverage it’s frustrating.
“We got information back saying unfortunately it’s too late because the Spanish police had to go to court to get paperwork signed so they could access the CCTV.
“By the time they did get it all the video had been deleted. It’s very frustrating.”
Good Morning Britain also reported private detective Gavin Burrows had said he feared Levi may have drowned in Barcelona port following concerns over a man in the water to a nearby cruise ship.
A search carried out found everyone accounted for on the ship therefore, searching was suspended according to The Sun.
Days later, Levi’s passport was found in that same area.
Speaking at the time when Levi first went missing, his sports agent and friend Tom Varndell says that the family has had a “terrible time” coping with his disappearance.
He told the Mirror: ““It’s been an awful time. It’s been a horrible few days.
"I spoke to the family and they know Levi had his issues and that’s what makes it more frightening.
“The longer this goes on, the more real and the darker it gets because you’re like, ‘where the hell has he gone for 12 days?!’
Levi has now been missing for almost three months as the search to find him continues.
