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A body has been recovered in the search for former England rugby player Tom Voyce.
The 43-year-old was feared dead after his empty 4×4 was recovered from the River Aln, near Alnwick, Northumberland, which he had been trying to cross using a ford during Storm Darragh.
It is understood Mr Voyce’s Toyota Hilux was recovered around 15 metres downstream from the point where he tried to cross the river on Saturday night.
Specialist officers from Northumbria Police’s Marine Unit made the tragic find in the river near Abberwick Mill on Thursday.
Formal identification is yet to take place but Mr Voyce’s next of kin have been notified and are currently being supported by specialist officers.
Concerns were raised for the former England rugby international on Sunday, after he had not returned home from being out with friends the previous evening.
It is believed the 43-year-old had entered the River Aln after attempting to cross Abberwick Ford during heavy rain.
Extensive searches were subsequently carried out by Northumbria Police and a range of partners, including from the National Police Air Service, North of Tyne Mountain Rescue Team and Northumberland National Park Mountain Rescue Team.
Tom’s family and friends were also involved in the search.
Chief Superintendent Helena Barron, of Northumbria Police, said: “This is an extremely sad development and our thoughts very much continue to be with Tom’s loved ones.
“I would like to thank all of our officers, partners and volunteers for their assistance throughout the searches which have been conducted in very challenging circumstances.
“We would continue to ask that people respect the family’s privacy at this time.”
The police spokesperson said Voyce’s wife, Anna, and all his family have expressed their gratitude for the help and support of the police, friends and the local community.
Officers do not believe there to be any third-party involvement and a report will be prepared for the coroner.
Mr Voyce grew up on a family farm in Truro on 5 January 1981 before leaving Cornwall at the age of 16 to join Bath.
He would go on to win nine England caps between 2001 and 2006, scoring three tries, with two of those coming against Samoa during his first Test appearance at Twickenham in 2005.
He is best known for helping London Wasps win the Premiership title at Twickenham in each of his first two seasons with the Adams Park outfit – scoring 15 tries in 34 appearances in the 2003-04 campaign, where they also won the Heineken Cup in a season for the ages.
The following year, he scored a try in the Premiership final as Leicester Tigers were dispatched for the Wasps’ third straight title.
After retiring from rugby in 2013, Mr Voyce became a high-powered city trader before looking to start a business closer to his Northumberland home.
Going back to his farming roots he set up Trevow Vegetation Management cutting back invasive species in the rolling hills for farmers around his home.
Well-known by locals, he was considered a keen innovator buying his first remote-controlled “flail robot” to cut down hedgerows in 2020.
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