‘I was £4,000 in debt and I wanted to disappear forever’
A.Dillon Duffy, who was only 18 years old, felt trapped. He was £4,000 in debt, overwhelmed and believed there was no way out. In desperation, the teenager took out loan after loan, each leaving him more indebted.
It started to feel like the only way out was to disappear completely. So Dillon made the drastic decision to take a train to London with no intention of ever returning.
“I didn’t know what to do, I tried everything and I really didn’t want to tell my family anything,” the now 19-year-old said. Independent.
“I couldn’t stand the thought of dealing with them. It was all too much and I thought the easiest thing to do would be to run away.”
Around 70,000 children go missing in the UK every year. Every situation is unique, but debt and its inescapable feeling can play a significant role for many people.
Like Independent Aiming to raise £165,000 to launch SafeCall, a new free service to help lost children find support and safety no matter what, Dillon reminds those in situations similar to his that help is always available and getting lost is never the answer.
donate Here or text SAFE to 70577 to donate £10 to Missing People, enough for one child to get help.
Dillon, from Oldham in Greater Manchester, started gambling with his friend in 2023 when he was 17. It started out as a harmless hobby where they would often wager £5 or £10 on slot machines. But within a few months, he started playing roulette and blackjack, and the bets continued to increase.
On the way, he lost his car and the money he had saved for a holiday with his friends. The paychecks he would receive every two weeks would run out the next day.
Dillon would take out loans to get the money back, but often the money would go right back to gambling and disappear again.
All the 18-year-old needed was to go online and sign up to high-interest loan sites, and she borrowed a total of around £5,000.
Looking back, Dillon now thinks he made the problem much 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 experienced it before, so I don’t think I believed it.”
“I was in a very bad situation.”
Getting lost had been in the back of his mind for a while, and the idea of getting lost in London where he didn’t know anyone was appealing.
He left a note for his parents saying he was “going away for a while” and that he didn’t know how long it would last. In fact, he was planning to never come back. “I was disgusted with myself,” he said.
Dillon, who cut his hair to avoid being recognized, took the remaining £ 200 and took a train to London.
“I think I was still in some sort of euphoria and felt pretty normal when I got there. But then when night came I was like, ‘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. “Why do I put myself in this situation? Why do I always do things like this?” I thought.
When Dillon finally connected to Wi-Fi, he logged into Facebook and was stunned to see a slew of notifications and a page opened as a result of his disappearance.
“When I read all the messages there were random people I didn’t even know,” she said. “They were all so kind and everyone was helping as a group… It was nice to read and hear, and I felt like I belonged.”
Dillon sent the following message to the group: “I’m fine and just want to be found.” His father, who was already looking for him in London, picked him up within half an hour. “It was really emotional, to be honest. I was so happy,” she added.
More than a year on, Dillon is now speaking out against the harms of gambling advertising and calling for stronger and more accessible support for people in his position.
She also wants more help to be provided to those struggling with their mental health and believes young people need to be able to talk more openly about the issue.
“If you’re thinking of getting lost, please don’t do it,” he said. “The effects it can have on your family and the people who raise you… They may not be there 24/7, but there are a lot of people out there who care about you.”
Helen Alves, head of support services at Missing People, said: “Early, accessible support is so important. By offering a safe space to talk, non-judgmental guidance and help before things escalate, we can intervene earlier, before young people are pushed into harm, isolation or loss.”
Those who struggle with gambling addiction can refer to them. nearby NHS clinic or contact the National Gambling Helpline run by . GamCareYou can get free information, support and consultancy services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, by calling 0808 8020 133.
For help with debt, National Debt Line You can be contacted on 0808 808 4000 and Citizen Advice can also offer support.
Please donate now To the Independent and Missing Persons’ Safe Call 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 lost, text or call the charity Missing People on 116 000 for advice, support and options. It’s free, confidential and non-judgmental. Or visit www.missingpeople.org.uk/get-help
