MISSING X Factor star Levi Davis is feared to have drowned at a port in Barcelona, police told his heartbroken family.
His devastated mum Julie Davis said cops told her they now believe a man reported drowning close by was sadly her son.
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The talented rugby player appeared to have a glittering future when he disappeared nearly six months ago in Barcelona on October 29.
Police have remained tight-lipped about the missing Birmingham-born athlete, leaving his loved ones desperate for answers.
The mysterious case has prompted multiple theories, including that Levi may have drowned in Barcelona to the possibility he might have gone missing “voluntarily”.
The most extravagant theory sees him being hunted down by a Somalian gang over a £100,000 debt.
But detectives now seem convinced that Levi slipped below the surface at the port after visiting The Old Irish Pub and the Hard Rock Cafe.
Four crew members of a cruise liner that was docking at 6.30am the day after he disappeared told investigators the man in distress was wearing the same light-coloured top as Levi.
They claimed the bloke shouted for help several times in English.
A lifebuoy was tossed down to him without success, but search operations by the police and coastguard were later suspended.
Crews were unable to find a body – but the only trace of Levi, his passport, turned up at the Barcelona port 20 days after he vanished.
Detectives say the sportsman’s mobile phone – which hasn’t been used since his disappearance – last pinged close to the port in the early hours of October 30.
The signal was picked up near the main Sants rail station, suggesting Levi headed there after leaving the boozers on La Rambla.
But in a bombshell twist, a friend revealed a text message sent to the X Factor alumni was read on December 15.
And it then strangely emerged that Levi’s Instagram had up to 38 contacts mysteriously deleted after he vanished.
His family have now revealed the latest update on the investigation suggests the 25-year-old met a tragic end at the port.
Mum Julie and Levi’s close friend Richard Squire met with cops on Monday to discuss developments in the case.
In a statement, she told MailOnline that his loved ones were still holding out hope that the missing star would make a safe return.
Julie said: “Extensive work has been done to track Levi’s movements on the night of the 29 Oct and police are able to confirm that following his last reported sighting at the Hard Rock Café, Levi walked back down La Rambla and entered the commercial port.
“His phone last registered in the early hours of Saturday 30 October with a phone tower at the far end of the port closest to the sea entrance.
“The investigation is still very much ongoing and we are hoping that the Port Police will authorise and carry out a further search of the waters and other inaccessible areas of the port.
“We would like to thank the Mosso d’esquadra and the British Consulate in Barcelona for their continued hard work.
“No further comment will be made at this time. We continue to ask that the press respect the feelings and privacy of Levi’s family and friends at what is a very emotionally distressing time.”
Levi was staying with close pal Richard in Ibiza before he travelled to Barcelona by ferry alone on October 29 to “meet some mates.”
But after arriving in the Spanish city, the rugby ace never got in touch to confirm he had arrived.
A few minutes past midnight on October 30, Levi reportedly had the last known contact with any of his friends or family.
Levi posted a posted a haunting final video in which he said he was being blackmailed by criminals who threatened to kill him and his family.
He said the blackmail began after he had been on X Factor in 2019, though he initially deleted the Instagram video.
Several former show participants have now told the family’s private investigator they believed Levi was indeed being blackmailed.
Exactly what has happened to Levi remains a mystery.
The rugby player-turned-reality star performed on X Factor: Celebrity with fellow rugby players Ben Foden and Thom Evans as part of the group Try Star.
In 2020, he starred in the E4 dating series Celebs Go Virtual Dating.
Levi made history that year when he was the first rugby union player to come out as bisexual while still playing.
After his time on X Factor he began to build a music career with a second single – Los Angeles – due to be released in November, for which publicity pictures were taken.
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LEVI DAVIS DISAPPEARANCE TIMELINE
October 25 – Posted video on Instagram in which he talked about being blackmailed by criminals, who threatened to kill him and his family. It was originally deleted.
October 29 – Travelled to Barcelona from Ibiza and sent a video from the ferry in which he can be heard saying: “Hi mum… it’s beautiful.”
October 29 – Was seen around 10.30pm on CCTV leaving the Old Irish Pub. Close friend Mike Guida revealed he was left a message by Levi soon after he left the pub. He also made a mystery payment from his phone hours before.
October 30 – Levi’s phone signal was last detected close to Barcelona’s Sants Estació mainline train station overnight.
November 17 – Cops reported to be investigating two new sightings of Levi after he was potentially spotted just minutes from the pub.
November 19 – Levi’s passport was found in the port area of Barcelona, near a cargo shipment. His mum revealed his bank card had not been used since he vanished and only had €40 on him.
December 9 – Private Investigator Gavin Burrows begins working on the case and he offers a £10,000 reward for information leading to discovering what happened to Levi.
January 27 – Gavin Burrows reveals Levi may have fled for his life from his flat to escape a Somali drug gang he owed money to.
February 1 – Levi’s Instagram had up to 38 contacts mysteriously deleted after he vanished, Burrows revealed. The names and how they were deleted could provide vital clues about what happened to him.
February 3 – The last video made by Levi resurfaces after being retrieved by Burrows and his team
February 27 – Levi’s case is handed over to a specialist crime unit in Spain after “disturbing” new evidence emerged
