Ex-England rugby player believed to have died after being swept away in River Aln in Northumberland

Former England rugby player Tom Voyce is believed to have died after going into the River Aln in Northumberland in his car.

Police have said they received a report on Sunday morning (8 December) that the 43-year-old had not returned to his home following an evening with friends.

The force suspects he attempted to cross Abberwick Ford in his car, which was then been pulled along with the current of the river during Storm Darragh.

Officers have since recovered his car, but Mr Voyce remains missing.

It is believed he was swept away during his attempts to escape.

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.”

Mr Voyce was born in Truro and first showed promise playing rugby as a child in Cornwall before going on to play for Bath Rugby and Gloucester Rugby.

He went on to represent England, being selected for every match of the 2006 Six Nations.

Mr Voyce retired from rugby in 2013.

A range of resources have been used in the search for Mr Voyce, including specialist officers from the Force’s Marine Section, the National Police Air Service, drones and dog handlers.

Volunteers from the North of Tyne Mountain Rescue have also been searching alongside members of Tom’s family and friends.

Chief Supt Barron added: “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.”

Those who have been carrying out the searches have been doing so in a coordinated manner and are either trained or know the local area and terrain well.

Members of the public are asked not to attend the scene to conduct their own searches.

The force said Mr Voyce's wife Anna and all his family had expressed their gratitude for the help and support from police, friends and the local community.

Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know...