Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
AAt just 18 years old, Dylan Duffy felt trapped. He had a debt of £4,000, overwhelmed And became convinced that he had no way out. In desperation, the teen took out loan after loan, each loan leaving him with more debt.
It seemed as if the only way out was to disappear completely. So Dylan made a tough decision catch a train to london No intention of ever returning.
“I didn’t know what to do, I had tried everything and I didn’t really want to say anything to my parents,” the now 19-year-old said. Independent,
“I couldn’t even imagine dealing with them. It was all too much, and I thought the easiest thing to do would be to get away from it all.”
Every year in Britain, approximately 70,000 children go missingEvery situation is unique, but debt and its inescapable feeling can play a significant role for many people,
As Independent aims to increase £165,000 to start secure callA free new service to help missing children find support and safety, no matter what, Dillon reminds those who are in situations similar to his that help is always available, and going missing is never the solution.
donate Here Or text SAFE to 70577 to give missing people £10 – enough to get one child support.
Dillon, from Oldham, Greater Manchester, started gambling with his friend in 2023 at the age of 17. It started as a harmless hobby, in which he would usually bet £5 or £10 on slot machines. But within a few months, he was playing roulette and blackjack, and the stakes kept increasing.
Along the way, he loses the money he had saved for an upcoming vacation with his friends and a car. His salary, which he received every two weeks, would be gone by the next day.
Dillon took out loans to get the money back, but it often went straight to gambling and then disappeared.
All the 18-year-old had to do was go on the internet and sign up to high-interest loan websites where, in total, she borrowed almost £5,000.
In the end, Dillon now thinks he made the problem worse than it was, adding: “My mental health had deteriorated. I didn’t know what to do, because I was one of those people who had never really been through this before, so I guess I didn’t believe it.
“I was in very bad shape.”
The disappearance had been on his mind for some time, and the idea of disappearing into London, where he knew no one, was appealing.
He left a note telling his parents that he was “just going away for a little while” and did not know how long it would be. In fact, he planned to never return. “I felt disgusted with myself,” he said.
After getting his hair cut so that he would not be recognised, Dillon took his remaining £200 and boarded a train to London.
“I think I was still kind of in a euphoria, and when I got there, I felt absolutely normal. But then, when night came, I said, ‘Oh my God’ and I realized the impact of the situation.”
He spent the next ten days in the cold, sleeping in parks and on the streets and stealing from supermarkets to feed himself. “I was wondering, why did I put myself in this situation? Why do I always do things like this?”
When Dylan finally connected to WiFi, he logged into Facebook and was stunned to see a flood of information and a page that had been set up as a result of his disappearance.
“When I was reading all the messages, there were people I didn’t even know,” he said. “They were all so kind and everyone was helping as a group… It was good to read and it was good to listen, and it felt like I was one of them.”
Dillon sent a message to the group saying: “I’m fine and I just want to be found.” His father, who was already in London looking for him, brought him within half an hour. “It was really emotional, to be honest. I was extremely happy,” he said.
More than a year later, Dillon is now speaking out against the harms of gambling advertising and has called for stronger and more accessible support for those in his position.
He would also like to see more support available for people struggling with mental health, and believes that young people need to be able to talk more openly about the issue.
“If you are thinking about going missing, please don’t do it,” he said. “It can have an impact on your family, the people who raised you… They might not be there 24/7, but there are a lot of people out there who care about you.”
Helen Alves, Head of Support Services missing peoplesaid: “Early, accessible support makes a big difference. By providing a safe space to talk, non-judgmental guidance and help before things escalate, we can step in sooner – before young people are pushed into harm, isolation or disappearance.”
People who are struggling with gambling addiction can refer themselves to this Nearest NHS clinic Or contact the National Gambling Helpline run by game careFree access to information, support and advice 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on 0808 8020 133.
To help deal with debt national credit line can be contacted on 0808 808 4000, and citizens advice Can also give support.
Please Donate Now The Independent and Missing People’s SafeCall campaign, which aims to raise £165,000 to create a free, nationwide service to help vulnerable children find safety and support.
If you or a loved one is missing, text or call the charity Missing People on 116000 for advice, support and options. It’s free, confidential and non-judgmental. or visit www.missingpeople.org.uk/get-help