Tom Voyce: 'As an adopted Northumbrian, he leaves a hole in so many of our hearts'
Wife pays tribute as body found on River Aln confirmed to be former England player
Last updated 13th Dec 2024
The wife of former England rugby player Tom Voyce has spoken of her heartache after a body discovered in a Northumberland river yesterday (Thursday) was confirmed to be her missing husband.
The 43-year-old sparked a full-scale search when he failed to return home from a night out with friends on Saturday.
It's understood he got into difficulty trying to drive across the flood-swollen Abberwick Ford, near Alnwick, during Storm Darragh.
In a statement released this evening (Friday), Tom's wife, Anna, said: “Absolutely devastated and heartbroken doesn’t even describe how we feel.
"We have all been overwhelmed by the support of friends, many travelling from far afield to help with the search. Tom would be blown away by the amount of people that were out there helping.
"We are just so lucky to live in such a special community that pulled together to find Tom.
"My main focus now is our son Oscar having done what he asked, 'find Daddy'."
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Tom 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.
Since relocating to Northumberland from London in 2019, Tom left his role at Investec to set up a vegetation management business - establishing himself within the Northumberland and Scottish Borders rural communities.
Anna - a former British & Irish Lion’s consultant - said: “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."
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As well as his family and friends, Northumbria Police's Marine Unit, the National Police Air Service, drones, dog handlers, mountain rescue and Coastguard teams, were all involved in the search.
Police say they don't believe there to be any third-party involvement in his death and a report, detailing the circumstances, will be prepared for the coroner.
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