Help Find Ben Ross Missing In Palma City

This Crowdfunder has been set up to find Ben Ross who went missing in Palma City, Spain.

Ben, went to Palma City to take a break from studying as a barrister and found work in June 2024. After being robbed during a trip to the beach, a series of unfortunate events have led to him going missing. He has no money, no phone, and no way of contacting anyone, now his mum Felix is planning to go out to Palma City to find her son.

Back Story.

Earlier in June, Ben travelled to Palma City and secured a job with a local energy company. He was seemingly doing well until a series of unfortunate events led to him going missing.

On the 6th of July, Ben set out to get his European tax code, according to the people he is sharing an apartment with. On the way back, he went to the beach for a swim. Whilst there, his bag was stolen. His phone, passport iPad Wallet and keys to where he was staying were all in the bag that was stolen.

Ben went straight to the police to report what had happened and by the time he left the police station, it was late in the evening. When trying to find where he was staying, he became lost and when he eventually found the apartment, his flatmates refused him entry due to not knowing who was knocking on the door so late.

Ben broke into the apartment out of desperation, to be met with aggrieved flatmates who since the incident threatened to evict him. On the 10th July, police were called about this incident to be told they wouldn’t intervene as Ben had offered to pay for any damages and explained the extenuating circumstances. One of the flatmates is then alleged to have threatened Ben with eviction and said they would ‘remove him’ before the weekend, information that has further increased Felix’s worries for the wellbeing of her son.

During this time, Felix and Ben were trying to work with his bank to secure funds for Ben to enable him to access other accommodation, food and water. Unfortunately, the instructions they sent were not working which only further added to Ben’s mental state leading him to send a peculiar email to Felix, which confirmed his mental state was not in a good place, before he cut off communications with her completely.

Ben was found on the 22nd July, though his whereabouts during the time he was missing remain unclear. He was drained and mentally broken and despite pleading with him, he refused to go to the hospital to be checked over, believing it would mean he would be unsafe in their care.

Despite best efforts to bring him back to full health, with food and water, Ben disappeared again on the 3rd August, after Felix had warned him they would need to return home that day due to funds running out. Felix believes something happened to Ben whilst he was missing, causing him to struggle with his mental health.

Currently, in Spain, their mental health services require patients to display behaviour that puts either them or the public in danger. Ben was struggling to see logic, believing that the universe would make things right and he would be fine. Despite Felix informing him of how impossible that would be with no money and no safe place to stay. She knew in that moment that her son needed help and set about trying to find support from the authorities whilst looking after Ben.

Felix tried everything. From reaching out to private clinics, who informed her that Ben would need to voluntarily arrive at their facilities, to pleading with the Home Office and police to force him on a plane home. He was scared of the authorities and convinced that they weren’t going to help him, making voluntary help impossible to achieve and whilst he stayed calm, he provided no reason for involuntary support.

Swiftly acting upon this, Felix called the police who set up a missing persons report and they have been looking for Ben ever since.

So far, they have not managed to find him and Felix was forced to return home. Whilst here in the UK, due to the significant backlash Jay Slater’s mum faced around asking for more donations to her GoFundMe, Felix unsuccessfully attempted to secure a loan.

To avoid any further trolling and nasty comments online, Felix started to sell her possessions to pull together enough money to afford a flight out to the island again in the hopes she will find Ben and convince him to come home. The authorities are unable to deport Ben until his European Visa runs out in September, provided they have found him and can guarantee he will be safe on a flight home.

Friends are once again supporting Felix in raising funds to get her son home. Due to the backlash around other GoFundMe accounts at the time, they didn’t push the one for Felix as a priority at the time, which resulted in only £3857 being raised. Given how expensive Majorca is right now, because of the peak holiday season, the money was used up quickly on budget accommodation, food and car hire. Felix now faces costs of almost double what they were a few weeks ago.

Felix said “Like any mother, no matter what age your children are, they are still your children. I just need to know my son is safe and well. The last few days have been torture. Please, if anyone has seen Ben, even if it’s just for a second, let the authorities know. We need to find him”.

The money raised will be used to fund Ben's mum's costs, such as hotel, flights and food, whilst searching for Ben. Anything not used will be donated to the Andy's Man Club charity in support of the good work they do supporting men's mental health. Any updates will be provided here when possible.

Anyone with sightings of Ben, or information about his whereabouts, should get in touch with the British Consulate and local police.