Nicola Bulley's family told 'don't give up' in message from mum of Levi Davis

17 February 2023 , 17:04

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Julie Davis says she is upset as she has no idea about what happened to her son Levi (Image: Family Handout)

The mother of missing rugby star Levi Davis has sent an emotional message to Nicola Bulley's family, telling them to keep their hope alive and not give up.

Julie Davis contacted Nicola's partner Paul Ansell to give him strength as the search for the missing mum-of-two continues.

Nicola went missing while walking her dog by the river in St Michael's on Wyre, Lancashire, three weeks ago, on January 27, shortly after dropping her two daughters off at school.

Mrs Davis' son Levi vanished in Barcelona, Spain, and was last seen leaving The Old Irish Pub on October 29, 2022.

After following the news of Nicola's disappearance, Levi's mother said she noticed "a lot of similarities" between her son's and Nicola's disappearances - as well as what the two families have had to deal with.

Nicola Bulley's children 'cried their eyes out' after being told 'mummy's lost'

Nicola Bulley with her partner Paul Ansell and dog Willow

She went missing on January 27 (Nikki Bulley - Mortgage Adviser/Facebook)

Mrs Davis told Mail Online: "My message to her family, to her partner, to her little girls would be this - 'I know your pain but don't give up.'

"At the moment hope is all we have. There's so many questions and no answers. You don't feel as though you can grieve when there is no body and so no confirmation that that person has gone."

She added that not knowing what may have happened to her son is the "biggest cause of anguish" - and said she is sure Nicola's family feels the same.

Mrs Davis also spoke about "frustrations" with the police investigation and online speculation after her son went missing.

Yellow ribbons and tributes on the bridge over the river Wyre in St Michael’s on Wyre in Lancashire (Julian Hamilton/Daily Mirror)

She mentioned speculation about Nicola's disappearance, which she said is even worse because she has two young children.

Levi's mum also offered to help Nicola's family, saying: "If I can be of any help to Nicola's partner and family then all they need do is contact me and I'll be happy to offer any assistance I can."

At 8.26am on the day she went missing, Nicola left her her home with her two daughters, dropping them off at school and engaging in a brief conversation with another parent around 15 minutes later.

Mrs Davis offered to help Nicola Bulley's family (ITV)

She then took her dog Willow for a walk along the path by the River Wyre at 8.43am, heading towards a gate in the lower field and was later seen by a dog walker who knew her.

At 8.53am, Ms Bulley sent an email to her boss, followed by a message to her friends six minutes later, before logging on to a Microsoft Teams call at 9.01am.

She was seen by a second witness at 9.10am, the last known sighting.

Mum appeared 'completely normal' moments before vanishing while walking dog

Her phone was back in the area of the bench at 9.20am before the Teams call ended 10 minutes later, with her mobile remaining logged on after the call.

Police continue to search the banks of the River Wyre, in Lancashire (Julian Hamilton/Daily Mirror)

At 9.33am, another dog walker found her phone on a bench beside the river, with Willow darting between the two.

At 10.50am, Ms Bulley's family and the school attended by her children were told about her disappearance.

Lancashire Constabulary deployed drones, helicopters and police search dogs as part of the major missing person operation - but no trace of her has been found so far.

Levi Davis has been missing since October 2022 (Twitter@https://twitter.com/BBCNewsbeat)

Levi Davis during the Premiership Rugby Cup Third Round match between Bath and Leicester Tigers in October 2019 (CameraSport via Getty Images)

Levi Davis was last seen on CCTV leaving a pub in Barcelona on October 29.

In the video, Levi can be seen carrying a small black rucksack, while wearing a white short-sleeved t-shirt, black trousers, and black and white trainers.

Friends and family launched a social media appeal for him to return, as they said he struggled with his mental health and coming out as bisexual.

Levi disappeared in Barcelona (bbc.co.uk)

Levi’s sister Candeece Balfour, 23, spoke emotionally about his disappearance and said that she "just wants him to come home".

She said: "I just want to tell him that I love him. I want to remind him and if anything, he knows that 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."

Chiara Fiorillo