The wife of former England rugby player Tom Voyce has paid tribute to her late husband after his car got swept into a fast-flowing river during Storm Darragh.
Tom Voyce, 43, had tried to cross Abberwick Ford over the River Aln near Alnwick, Northumberland, before his vehicle was swept away with the current last Saturday night.
The sportsman won nine caps for England during his career, and in club rugby played for teams including London Wasps, Bath, and Gloucester.
After four days of extensive searches, specialist officers made the tragic find in the river near Abberwick Mill yesterday – close to where Mr Voyce was swept away.
Anna Voyce, the wife of former England rugby player Tom whose body was found in a flood-swollen river said his death ‘leaves a hole in so many of our hearts’, adding: ‘My main focus now is our son Oscar having done what he asked, ‘find Daddy’.’
She added in her statement: ‘Tom was fully immersed in Alnwick Rugby Club and was much-loved by Oscar’s under-7’s team which he coached with gusto, giving back to the game that gave him so much.
‘Oscar is immensely proud of his Daddy and he was the best father and role model that Oscar could have asked for.
‘Tom was proud, and cherished, his rugby memories and as an adopted Northumbrian local he leaves a hole in so many of our hearts.
‘With his big warm smile, passion and funny stories he loved nothing better than sitting round a table chatting with family and friends sharing his latest creation on his Big Green Egg.’
Former rugby player Mr Voyce pictured with his wife Anna, who he married in 2015
Former rugby star Mr Voyce pictured playing for England in 2005
The ford – a usually shallow water crossing where cars can pass – where Mr Voyce tried to drive through during Storm Darragh
A floral tribute placed at the scene of the River Aln, where Mr Voyce was swept away
Police launched a search for the England wing on Sunday morning after he never returned home from an evening with friends.
His Toyota Hilux was then recovered but Mr Voyce remained missing, with searchers gathering each morning to scour the banks of the river from the ford between Bolton and Abberwick, all the way to the sea at Alnmouth.
The operation included specialist officers from the force’s Marine Section, the National Police Air Service, drones and dog handlers. Volunteers also looked for the rugby player alongside his family and friends – including his wife Anna Wood, who he married in 2015.
Storm Darragh devastated the UK last weekend after 96mph winds crushed cars, wrecked homes and uprooted trees, while heavy downpours caused rivers to burst their banks and flood the streets of nearby towns.
Northumbria Police said the ‘exceptionally heavy rain’ from Storm Darragh had ‘significantly’ increased the River Aln’s water level and flow, making it unsafe to cross.
Mr Voyce was born in Truro, Cornwall, and went on to be educated at Penair School in Truro. He continued his education at King’s College in Taunton.
Outside of rugby he was an ambassador of the Wooden Spoon Society, a children’s charity. It supports kids and young people with disabilities or living in disadvantage in the UK and Ireland.
The star started his playing career with Bath Rugby, working his way up through the lower sides before debuting for their Premiership team.
While at Bath he became an established member of the England under-21 side and in 2001 he made his senior England debut against the USA – his first of nine.
In 2003, after 55 appearances with Bath, Mr Voyce would go on to join London Wasps, where he would play the majority of his senior club rugby.
Police at the scene of the River Aln, during the search to find former rugby player Mr Voyce
Members of the Police Marine Unit at the scene at Abberwick Ford on the River Aln
Two members of a search and rescue team during a search operation at Abberwick Ford
A life boat carrying a search dog on the River Aln amid the desperate search for Mr Voyce
Search rescue members in a boat searching for the former England winger
Mr Voyce tried to cross the flood-swollen river in his car during Storm Darragh on Saturday
A search and rescue team look for Mr Voyce in the river, accompanied by a search dog
Rescue members searching the flood-swollen river in a bid to find missing Mr Voyce
During the 2004 season he set the record for the quickest try ever scored as he gathered a loose ball from kick off and crossed by the posts in 9.63 against Harlequins.
He also scored a try in the 2005 Premiership rugby final, helping Wasps secure their third consecutive title.
It is here that he became an established member of the England team, having been selected for each of England’s Six Nations matches during the 2006 tournament.
Mr Voyce came off the bench in England’s opening tie, scoring in the process before starting in the second match.
He made a further start for England in the 2006 Six Nations this time against Ireland as England sputtered throughout the tournament.
His final England cap came against Australia in Sydney, in a performance he admitted himself was quite poor, and his international career ended with nine caps and 15 points.
In March 2009, it was announced Mr Voyce would join Gloucester, where he spent three years.
His final stop in his career was London Welsh who he joined in April 2012, with the sportsman announcing his retirement from all forms of Rugby in May 2013
Mr Voyce’s death has deeply upset the rugby union community.
Matt Dawson, who played alongside Mr Voyce at Wasps, posted a photo of Mr Voyce on Instagram alongside the caption: ‘One of life’s wonderful humans… I can’t express my sadness right now… All the Dawsons send their love & strength to Anna and the whole family.’
Mr Voyce pictured with former England and Wasps captain Lawrence Dallaglio
Mr Voyce and Danny Cipriani pose with the trophy after winning the Guinness Premiership Final in 2008
England Rugby said on X, formerly Twitter: ‘Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Tom Voyce at this extremely challenging time.’
Gloucester Rugby also posted on X, writing: ‘Gloucester Rugby is desperately sad to hear the distressing news regarding our former player and friend, Tom Voyce. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Tom’s family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.’
Before the body was found, Chief Superintendent Helena Barron, from Northumbria Police, said: ‘This is an extremely tragic incident, and our thoughts are very much with Tom’s loved ones at this time.
‘Our officers continue to support his family and we would ask that their privacy is respected.
‘Extensive enquiries have been ongoing since concerns were raised for Tom, including deploying specialist teams to search for him.’
Chief Supt Barron said: ‘Our searches continue but we are dealing with very challenging circumstances in trying to recover Tom.
‘This is down to the conditions, including the river flow and the level being significantly heightened due to the exceptionally heavy rain we experienced over the weekend.
‘Sadly, we can therefore not provide any timescales around this. We would like to thank our colleagues from Mountain Rescue for their continued support and all those who have helped with the searches.’
This is a breaking news story. More to follow.
