KUALA LUMPUR: A 17-year-old British boy reported missing by his family is believed to have secretly travelled to Malaysia last month and remains untraceable.

David Balisong, from Cheadle, Greater Manchester, had told his brother on June 6 that he was leaving early for school, where he was sitting for his A-level exams.

That same day, he boarded a one-way flight to Kuala Lumpur without informing anyone, the Daily Mail reported.

His family only realised something was wrong when he failed to return home from college that evening.

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They found out that he had taken his passport.

The next day, police in England confirmed that David had travelled alone from Manchester Airport and had been granted a 90-day visa upon arrival in Malaysia.

His mother, Minerva, 50, a critical care nurse, said the family is devastated and clinging to hope that he is safe.

"The emotion feels like a tsunami. We never saw this coming. We just woke up, and the next thing our son was gone," she was quoted saying.

"We're not angry with him — we love him and care for him more than he knows. We just want to know he's safe."

David, a computer science student at Manchester University, has reportedly turned off his phone and has not responded to emails.

He had only £1,200 in his bank account when he left the UK.

Born in the UK to Filipino parents, David has no known links to Malaysia.

Minerva said the entire family — her husband Lorenzo, 55, and their two other children, Faith, 16, and Daniel, 13 — are still in disbelief.

"He was healthy and happy, and nothing seemed wrong.

"He's an ideal student, an ideal son. Everyone is shocked — he's a homebody who always comes home.

"Even when he goes out, he asks for permission and keeps us updated," she said, adding that he may have been under some stress from his A-levels but showed no sign of distress.

The family has launched a GoFundMe appeal to help raise funds for travel and accommodation in Kuala Lumpur to assist in the search.

The New Straits Times has reached out to police for comment.