Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Cruise ship staff ‘tried to save man in water on night Levi Davis disappeared’

The 24-year-old former Bath rugby player and Celebrity X Factor contestant was last seen at The Old Irish Pub in Barcelona on October 29.

Luke O'Reilly
Wednesday 19 April 2023 18:29 BST
Levi Davis (Ian West/PA)
Levi Davis (Ian West/PA) (PA Archive)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Cruise ship staff reported trying to save a man who was in the water near Barcelona’s commercial port on the night rugby player Levi Davis went missing, his family have said.

The 24-year-old former Bath player and Celebrity X Factor contestant was last seen at The Old Irish Pub in Barcelona on October 29.

However, a statement shared with the PA news agency on behalf of Mr Davis’s family said police had told them his phone last registered with a phone tower at the far end of Barcelona’s commercial port.

The statement said that his mother Julie Davis and friend Richard Squire met local police on Monday for an update on the investigation into his disappearance.

“Extensive work has been done to track Levi’s movements on the night of the 29th October and they are able to confirm that following his last reported sighting at the Hard Rock Cafe, Levi walked back down La Rambla and entered the commercial port,” the statement said.

Four staff confirmed seeing a man in the water with specific details including him asking for help in English and the colour of his clothing

Family statement

“His phone last registered in the early hours of Saturday 30th October with a phone tower at the far end of the port closest to the sea entrance.”

The statement said cruise ship staff reported trying to save a man in the water by the port on the same night.

“Reports of a man in the water by staff on a cruise ship entering the port at 6.30am on 30th Oct have been investigated,” his family said.

“Four staff confirmed seeing a man in the water with specific details including him asking for help in English and the colour of his clothing.

“A life jacket was thrown from the ship and emergency sea and air rescue services searched the area but they were unable to find him.”

The statement added that the investigation is continuing and asked for the privacy of Mr Davis’s family and friends to be respected.

Mr Davis appeared 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.

He had signed a record deal and had gone to stay with Mr Squire in Ibiza to work on some songs.

Speaking to the BBC last month, Mr Squire said he dropped Mr Davis off in Ibiza Town on October 28 and has not seen him since.

He said Mr Davis told him he was heading to Barcelona.

Mr Davis told Mr Squire he would call when he arrived in Barcelona but he never did.

As concern grew, Bath Rugby shared a missing persons appeal in November.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in