Specialist officers searching for the missing former England rugby player Tom Voyce have discovered a body near the spot where he was swept away while attempting to drive across a flood-swollen river, according to police.
Concerns grew for the 43-year-old on Sunday after he failed to return home following a night out with friends on Saturday. His Toyota Hilux was later found downstream from Abberwick Ford on the River Aln outside Alnwick, Northumberland. Police believe Voyce may have been swept away while trying to escape his vehicle, as the river was unusually high due to Storm Darragh hitting the UK over the weekend.
A large-scale search operation was launched, involving Northumbria Police, drones, the police helicopter, coastguard officers, and the North of Tyne and Northumberland National Park mountain rescue teams. Voyce’s family and friends, including many from the rugby community, also joined the search efforts.
On Thursday, specialist officers from Northumbria Police’s marine unit found a body in the river near Abberwick Mill. Formal identification is yet to occur, but Voyce’s next of kin have been informed and are receiving support from specialist officers. Northumbria Police previously highlighted the challenging conditions faced during the search, particularly due to the high river flow and heavy rainfall over the weekend.
Chief Superintendent Helena Barron of Northumbria Police said: “This is an extremely sad development, and our thoughts remain with Tom’s loved ones.” She also thanked all officers, partners, and volunteers for their efforts under difficult circumstances, urging the public to respect the family’s privacy during this time. Officers do not suspect any third-party involvement, and a report will be prepared for the coroner.
The rugby world expressed shock and sadness at Voyce’s disappearance, with messages of support coming from World Cup winners Matt Dawson and Lawrence Dallaglio, the latter of whom lost his sister in the Marchioness disaster on the River Thames in 1989. Dallaglio wrote on X: “It’s the most horrific news, and all I would say is that we should respect Tom’s family and their suffering right now and keep them in our thoughts.”
Voyce won nine caps for England during his career and spent six years at Wasps from 2003 to 2009, helping the team win European and domestic titles before joining Gloucester in 2009. He made 220 Premiership appearances before retiring in May 2013 and is believed to have recently moved to Northumberland from London.
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