Rugby star Levi Davis ‘depressed’ before he went missing, mother says

The mother of rugby star Levi Davis says he was depressed and faced deep issues before he went missing. Julie Davis claimed her son was thinking about leaving the sport in the wake of a ligament injury and he had experienced financial difficulties.Ms Davis also said her son had complained of racism during his career as a rugby player.The winger was last seen at a pub in Spain on October 29.Mr Davis, 24, is also known for his television appearances. He featured on ITV’s Celebrity X Factor in 2019 alongside fellow rugby stars Ben Foden and Thom Evans in a singing group known as Try Star.He was also on E4’s Celebs Go Dating in 2020. Levi Davis at the launch of The X Factor: Celebrity at the Mayfair Hotel, London (Image: PA) Davis during a Premiership Rugby Cup Third Round match between Bath Rugby and Leicester Tigers (Image: Getty) Try Star (left-right) Thom Evans, Levi Davis and Ben Foden (Image: PA) Levi Davis breaks clear to score a try in a match against Leicester Tigers (Image: Getty)Former England rugby player Tom Varndell urged anyone who has seen Mr Davis in the past two weeks to make contact.Writing on Twitter, Varndell said: “If anyone has seen or heard from Levi Davis in the last two weeks could you please drop me a message asap. Many thanks.”His worried mum told Mail Online : “There have been a lot of issues going on for Levi recently which he shared with me. I think it was a build up of these things which eventually just blew his mind.”Rugby has not been the best at looking after Levi and he’s suffered a lot of racial prejudice. He didn’t have a club and was also recently having money worries.DON’T MISS: Couple’s £84k-a-year benefits as children and 35 dogs lived in filth [REVEALED] Couple’s dream wedding ruined as luxury hotel takes in asylum seekers [REPORT] Juan Carlos of Spain’s ex-lover makes outrageous claims about Diana [LATEST] Levi Davis attends the UK gala event for ‘In from the Side’ at Vue West End (Image: Getty)”At the same time there was some very deep emotional stuff around relationships that I can’t really go into.”She added: “It seems as if everything just got too much for him and it’s led to Levi going missing.”He’s had mental issues in the past, but it seems as if this time he’s not been able to handle them.”Mr Davis’s sister Candeece Balfour, 23, said she just wanted him to come home. She told The Mirror: “I just want to tell him that I love him. I want to remind him and if anything, he knows my mum of all people is the person he can go to.”I just want him to come home and any support he needs, we can be there.” Tom Varndell looks on during a European Rugby Challenge Cup match (Image: Getty)Mr Davis’s foster mother, Susanne Balfour, told Sky News he had mentioned a blackmail threat in a video posted on social media.Host Kay Burley asked her if the blackmail was linked to her foster son’s sexuality, to which she replied: “He might just be frightened. He did say in that video that his life was in danger. I don’t know whether he’s running from something. I just don’t know.”She added: “Levi said he needed to get out of Ibiza, when his friend asked why he just said he needed to get out… He was actually on a ferry from Ibiza going to Barcelona… but that was the last thing he heard from him.”It is believed members of Mr Davis’s family have flown to Spain to continue the search.Friend Richard Squire, who Mr Davis was visiting in Ibiza, set up a GoFundMe to help raise money for the travel costs.Ms Davis also gave Good Morning Britain an update on the search for her son.Presenter Ed Balls asked her for the latest information, to which she replied: “The latest is that he was seen in Sitges, on a beach there.”He was approached by a gentleman who saw Levi, who we think was Levi, and asked him in Spanish, ‘Are you ok?’ Unfortunately, Levi, if it was Levi, didn’t answer back.”I don’t know if it’s because he doesn’t know the language very well and went on his way.”The Samaritans can be reached round the clock, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.If you need a response immediately, it’s best to call them on the phone. You can reach them by calling 116 123, by emailing jo@samaritans.org or by visiting samaritans.org