Police confirmed on Friday that the body of the former England rugby international had been found, five days after the 43-year-old had gone missing during Storm Darragh
The widow of Tom Voyce says she is “absolutely devastated and heartbroken doesn’t even describe how we feel” after the death of the former England rugby player.
The 43-year-old former wing’s car was washed away crossing a ford on the River Aln near Alnwick, Northumberland, last weekend during Storm Darragh. Following several days of intensive searches – involving the emergency services as well as local volunteers – a body was found in the river on Thursday.
Formal identification took place on Friday, with the body subsequently officially confirmed to be Mr Voyce, who won nine caps for England between 2001 and 2006, scoring 15 points. He played as a winger or full-back, turning out for Bath, Gloucester, Wasps and London Welsh over a distinguished career before retiring in 2013.
His wife, Anna, issued a statement on Friday evening, which read: “Absolutely devastated and heartbroken doesn’t even describe how we feel. My main focus now is our son Oscar having done what he asked, ‘find Daddy’.
“All of Tom’s family were involved in the search. I will be forever grateful to my brothers Hugh and Jamie, Aidan Philipson and Garry Whitfield for coordinating the search party working alongside the police teams.
“Tom would be blown away by the amount of people that were out there helping. We have all been overwhelmed by the support of friends, many travelling from far afield to help with the search. We are just so lucky to live in such a special community that pulled together to find Tom.
“Since relocating to Northumberland from London in 2019, Tom left his role at Investec to set up a flourishing business, Trevow Vegetation Management, and has established himself within the Northumberland and Scottish Borders rural communities, many of whom have turned up to help with the search.
“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.”
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.
Former England international Mike Tindall, who played with Voyce at Gloucester, paid tribute to his former teammate in a post shared by his podcast The Good, The Bad, And The Rugby, which read: “He epitomised rugby as a game for all shapes and sizes, punching well above his weight. His ability to break tackles and his durability were exceptional. He was a great character off the pitch.”
His podcast co-host, and former England star, James Haskell also paid tribute to Voyce adding: “He was a teammate, a friend and an incredible player – someone I admired who always punched above his weight. He will be sorely missed by everybody.”
