Missing Oldham teenager reunited with family after 10 days

An Oldham teenager who had been missing from home for more than a week has been reunited with his family.

A desperate search began for Dillon Duffy (18), who was dropped off at Asda in Chadderton on June 18. He boarded a train to London, where CCTV captured images of him.

When he failed to return home, the Facebook group Help Find Dillon Duffy was created, with random members of the public offering to search for and post 'missing' posters for the youngster.

But Dillon bravely took to the social media platform to admit that he had downloaded betting apps and it had become a habit.

While in London, he saw a news article on his phone that said his father had been looking for him for six days. He said he felt hurt and decided he had to go home and asked his parents to come and get him.

Dillon is now safe at home and reunited with his family.

He later updated his story on the group's Facebook post, which read: “I didn't care if I won or lost, I just liked the thrill.” At this point I had lost too much money. I started feeling very tired, very depressed and it reached an all time high, and as someone who has never suffered from anxiety or depression, I think this hit me the hardest because I didn't know what to do or where to go.

Dillon's mother Donna said: “What he did was incredible. He had the confidence to come forward and tell his own story. I immediately wanted to find him.

“Everyone was frantically trying to catch him. Hearing my boy's voice was the best feeling in the world. I stayed on the phone until his father reached his location.

“The last 10 days have been hell. But what I learned is that there is so much kindness in the world. So much love for others to share and that's what brought him back. I am truly grateful to every single person who never gave up, who shared a message, who shared a poster, who reached out and who always thought the best of himself.

“Never give up, never stop believing and always have hope. »