A body has been found in the search for missing former England rugby player Tom Voyce.
Concerns were raised for Mr Voyce’s wellbeing after he failed to return home from an evening with friends in the Northumberland town of Alnwick last Saturday.
Northumbria Police said the 43-year-old had gone into the River Aln near Alnwick – after attempting to cross Abberwick Ford in his car.
The river was in flood at the time owing to Storm Darragh.
Northumbria Police’s Marine Unit discovered the body in the river near Abberwick Mill earlier on Thursday.
In a statement the force said that formal identification is yet to take place but Tom’s next of kin have been notified and are being supported by officers.
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 world of rugby expressed its shock and sadness when he went missing, including messages from World Cup winners Matt Dawson and Lawrence Dallaglio, who lost his sister in the Marchioness disaster in the Thames in 1989.
Voyce won nine caps for England during his career and spent six years at Wasps, from 2003 to 2009, where he helped them win European and domestic titles, moving there from Bath and then leaving to join Gloucester in 2009.
He made 220 Premiership appearances before retiring in May 2013.
It was understood Voyce, who was raised in Cornwall, relocated to Northumberland recently after living in London.
