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A physique has been present in a river within the seek for former England rugby union star Tom Voyce who vanished suring Storm Darragh.
Northumbria Police stated the 43-year-old was prone to have been swept away within the River Aln close to Alnwick, Northumberland, on Saturday as climate warnings had been in place throughout the nation.
Police imagine he was making an attempt to cross Abberwick Ford however his 4×4 pickup truck was pulled together with the present of the river, which had been operating excessive as a consequence of heavy rain within the storm.
Because the rugby world expresses its unhappiness on the discovery right here is the whole lot we learn about Tom Voyce.
Who’s Tom Voyce?
Former England rugby winger Tom Voyce grew up on a household farm in Truro on 5 January 1981 earlier than leaving Cornwall on the age of 16 to affix Bathtub.
Mr Voyce would go on to win 9 England caps between 2001 and 2006, scoring three tries, with two of these coming in opposition to Samoa throughout his first Take a look at look at Twickenham in 2005.
He’s greatest recognized for serving to London Wasps win the Premiership title at Twickenham in every of his first two seasons with the Adams Park outfit – scoring 15 tries in 34 appearances within the 2003-04 marketing campaign, the place additionally they gained the Heineken Cup in a season for the ages.
The next 12 months, he scored a strive within the Premiership closing as Leicester Tigers had been dispatched for the Wasps’ third straight title.
Since his retirement from the game, Mr Voyce grew to become a dealer within the metropolis commuting from Northumberland the place he had settled along with his spouse and youngsters.
The place was he final seen?
Police obtained a report on Sunday morning that Mr Voyce had not returned to his dwelling following a night with mates.
It emerged he vanished on the crossing of the River Aln simply 4 miles away from Alnwick a small city the place his farming enterprise is predicated.
His 4×4 Toyota Hilux was recovered round 15 metres downstream from the purpose the place he tried to cross the river.
There’s a footbridge subsequent to the single-track street with a ford warning signal simply metres earlier than the river.
What’s the newest within the seek for Tom Voyce?
Police, household and mates gathered from first mild on Wednesday to scour the banks of the river from the ford between Bolton and Abberwick all the best way to the ocean at Alnmouth.
Officers from Northumbria Police’s Marine Unit waded into the River Aln to look the waters.
Geared up with sticks, the officers tapped their manner alongside the river heading downstream from the ford as drones had been despatched as much as cowl the agricultural space.
Officers from the coastguard joined the search utilizing a dinghy, accompanied by a skilled canine.
On Thursday a physique was found 500 metres downstream from the crossing close to Abberwick Mill.
The power stated formal identification was but to happen however Voyce’s subsequent of kin have been notified and had been being supported by specialist officers.
Why was he residing in Northumberland?
After leaving his high-powered metropolis job at Investec financial institution he seemed for enterprise nearer to his Northumberland dwelling.
Going again to his farming roots he arrange Trevow Vegetation Administration chopping again invasive species within the surrounding great thing about rolling hills surrounding his dwelling.
Well-known by locals was thought of a eager innovator shopping for his first remote-controlled “flail robotic” to chop down hedgerows in 2020.
His enterprise has since developed with a rising fleet of specialist machines.
He advised farming journal Profi: “It has taken time to win individuals over.
“For a personal property or landowner I initially look costly, however I can full the job about 75% quicker than one individual doing the job manually with a strimmer or chainsaw.”
What had been the climate circumstances like when he vanished?
A water degree indicator on the ford confirmed the river was nonetheless round one foot deep on Wednesday morning, however it could have been a lot greater on the weekend when Storm Darragh lashed the UK.
In Northumberland, gusts of 58mph had been recorded alongside the coast with over 48mm of rain being measured at Redesdale Camp on Saturday when Mr Voyce was final seen.
The council warned on Sunday: “Whereas the worst of the storm has now handed, very excessive winds proceed, with tough driving circumstances and residents suggested to not journey until needed.”
The Setting Company issued plenty of flood warnings and alerts, with the council’s highways groups known as out to all three flood warning areas to supply sandbags the place required.
The slender nation street that connects the village of Bolton and city of Alnwick dips into the flowing River Aln and is used recurrently by farmers within the space.
There’s a weight restrict on the street and one hazard signal warning of an upcoming ford, nevertheless it was not on a listing of closed roads on the time of Mr Voyce’s disappearance.
Northumberland Hearth and Rescue Service Hearth Management stated they’d handled plenty of calls regarding fallen bushes, energy cuts and floor water flooding affecting roads over the weekend.
They added no studies had been obtained of flooding to properties.
The river degree was significantly excessive on the weekend with a dipstick displaying water ranges barely seen throughout Storm Darragh, locals stated.
One neightbour advised The Impartial: “The river is 2 fields away beneath our home, beneath regular circumstances you can not truly see it as a result of the water is nicely beneath the peak of the financial institution.
“It runs via a deep minimize for a way in each instructions. In the event you can see water from right here not an opportunity would I take that route.
“On Saturday evening the climate was fairly excessive with the storm, the rain had been pelting down solidly since Friday with excessive winds.
“Slightly additional alongside from the ford there’s a bridge over the river there however we knew the river had burst its banks and that route can be impassable too.”
What are Tom Voyce’s household and former teammates saying about his disappearance?
The Voyce household together with his spouse Anna have requested privateness following the invention of the physique.
A bunch of roses have been positioned on the banks of the river in a nod to the winger’s illustrious worldwide profession.
His suspected demise has deeply upset the rugby union neighborhood.
World Cup-winning England scrum-half Matt Dawson, who performed alongside Mr Voyce at Wasps between 2004 and 2006, posted an image of Mr Voyce on Instagram with the caption: “One among life’s great people… I can’t specific my unhappiness proper now… All of the Dawsons ship their love and power to Anna and the entire household.”
England Rugby stated on X, previously often called Twitter: “Our ideas and prayers are with the household and mates of Tom Voyce at this extraordinarily difficult time.”
Gloucester Rugby additionally posted on X, saying: “Gloucester Rugby is desperately unhappy to listen to the distressing information concerning our former participant and good friend, Tom Voyce.
“Our ideas and prayers exit to Tom’s household and mates at this extremely tough time.”
British and Irish Lions posted: “The British & Irish Lions ship our heartfelt ideas and prayers to Tom Voyce’s household and mates throughout this deeply distressing time.”
And Premiership Rugby added: “Everybody at Premiership Rugby is devastated by the information concerning Tom Voyce.
“We ship our ideas and prayers to his household and mates.”
Bathtub Rugby posted on X saying: “Our ideas and prayers are with the household and mates of Tom Voyce at this extremely distressing time.”
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The Impartial
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Barney Davis , 2024-12-12 16:46:00
