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The wife of former England rugby player Tom Voice said she was “absolutely devastated” after the body found in a flooded river was confirmed to be his.
Mr Voyce, 43, had attempted to cross the Abberwick Ford over the River Aln near Alnwick, Northumberland, before his car was swept away by the current last Saturday night.
The sportsman won nine caps for England during his career, and in club rugby he played for teams including London Ossey, Bath and Gloucester.
After four days of intensive searching, specialists yesterday made the tragic discovery in the river near Abberwick Mill – close to where Mr Voyce was swept away.
In a statement released today, Anna Voyce said his death “leaves a hole in the hearts of so many of us.”
She said: “Absolutely devastated and heartbroken doesn’t even describe how we feel.
“My main focus now is for our son Oscar to do what he asked, ‘find daddy.’
“Tom’s whole family was involved in the search. I will forever be grateful to my brothers Hugh and Jamie, Aidan Phillipson and Gary Whitfield for co-ordinating the search party working alongside the police teams.
Former rugby player Mr Voyce pictured with his wife Anna, whom he married in 2015
In a statement released today, Anna said her husband’s death “leaves a hole in so many of our hearts.”
Former rugby star Mr Voice pictured playing for England in 2005
The ford – normally a shallow water crossing where cars can pass – where Mr Voyce tried to get through Storm Darragh
“Tom would have been blown away by the amount of people who were there to help. We were all overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from friends, many of whom traveled from far and wide to help in the search.
“We are so fortunate to live in such a special community that came together to find Tom.”
She said the family moved from London to Northumberland in 2019. and her husband has left his role at Investec bank and set up business Trevow Vegetation Management.
It settled in the rural communities of Northumberland and the Scottish Borders, many of whom turned up to help with the search, Ms Voyce said.
She added in her statement: “Tom was fully immersed at Alnwick Rugby Club and was much loved by Oscar’s under-7 team, who he relished coaching, giving back to the game that had given him so much.
“Oscar is extremely proud of his father and he was the best father and role model Oscar could have asked for.
“Tom was proud and cherished his rugby memories and as an adopted Northumbria native he leaves a hole in the hearts of so many of us.
“With his big warm smile, passion and funny stories, he loved nothing better than sitting around the table chatting with family and friends, sharing his latest creation on his Big Green Egg.”
Laying flowers at the site on the River Aln where Mr Voyce was swept away
Mr Voyce studied at Cirencester Agricultural College, where he met his future son-in-law Jamie, then befriended Anna.
They married at Babington House, Somerset in 2015.
After working for the British Lions as a consultant, she set up her own online home goods brand, OSSKI, after the birth of their son.
Mr Voyce’s mother Christine still lives in Cornwall, where he grew up with his late father Michael and younger sister Emily, who has moved to New York.
The family thanked the police, mountain rescuers and all specialist teams who helped in the search and asked for privacy.
Police launched a search for the England winger on Sunday morning after he failed to return home from a night out with friends.
His Toyota Hilux was then found, but Mr Voyce remained missing, with searchers gathering every morning to search the banks of the river from the ford between Bolton and Abberwick, all the way to the sea at Alnmouth.
Police at the scene on the River Aln, during the search to find ex-rugby player Mr Voyce
Members of the Marine Policing Unit at the scene at Aberwick Ford on the River Aln
Two members of a search and rescue team during a search operation at Abberwick Ford
A lifeboat carrying a sniffer dog on the River Aln in a desperate search for Mr Voyce
Look for rescue members in a boat looking for the former England winger
Mr Voyce tried to cross the flood-swollen river with his car during Storm Darragh on Saturday
A search and rescue team is searching for Mr Voice in the river, accompanied by a sniffer dog
Rescue crews are scouring the flood-swollen river in an attempt to find missing Mr Voyce
The operation involved specialist officers from the maritime branch of the force, the National Police Air Service, drones and dog handlers. Volunteers also searched for the rugby player along with his family and friends.
Storm Darragh devastated the UK last weekend after winds of 96mph crushed cars, destroyed homes and uprooted trees, while heavy rain caused rivers to burst their banks and flood the streets of nearby towns.
Northumbria Police said “extremely heavy rain” from Storm Darragh had “significantly” increased the water level and flow of the River Aln, making it dangerous to cross.
Mr. Voyce was born in Truro, Cornwall, and was educated at Penair School, Truro. He continued his education at King’s College in Taunton.
Outside of rugby, he was an ambassador for the Wooden Spoon Society, a children’s charity. It supports children and young people who are disabled or disadvantaged in the UK and Ireland.
The star began his playing career with Bath Rugby, working his way through the bottom sides before making his debut for their Premiership side.
While at Bath he became an established member of the England Under-21 team and in 2001 made his senior England debut against USA – his first in nine.
In 2003, after 55 appearances for Bath, Mr Voyce would go on to join London Wasps where he would play most of his senior club rugby.
Mr Voyce pictured with former England and Wasp captain Lawrence Dallaglio
In the 2004 season he set a record for the fastest try ever scored when he collected a loose ball from a kick-off and crossed off the post in 9.63 against Harlequins.
He also scored a try in the 2005 Rugby Premiership Final, helping the Wasps secure their third consecutive title.
It was here that he became an established member of the England squad, having been selected for each of England’s Six Nations matches during the 2006 tournament.
Mr Voyce came off the bench in England’s first game, scoring in the process, before starting in the second game.
He made one more start for England in the 2006 Six Nations. this time against Ireland as England sputtered throughout the tournament.
His last game for England was against Australia in Sydney, and his international career ended with nine games and 15 points.
In March 2009 it was announced that Mr. Voyce would be joining Gloucester, where he spent three years.
His last stop in his career was London Welsh, who he joined in April 2012, with the athlete 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 along with the caption: “One of life’s wonderful people… I can’t express my sadness right now… All the Dawsons send their love and strength to Anna and the entire family.”
Mr Voyce and Danny Cipriani pose with the trophy after winning the 2008 Guinness Premiership Final.
England Rugby said on X, ex 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 deeply saddened 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 Inspector Helena Barron, of 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 like their privacy to be respected.
“Extensive inquiries have been ongoing since concerns about Tom were raised, including the deployment of specialist teams to search for him.”
Sergeant Barron said: “Our search continues but we are facing very difficult circumstances in trying to recover Tom.
“This is due to conditions including river flow and the level being significantly elevated due to the extremely heavy rain we experienced over the weekend.
“Unfortunately, therefore, we cannot provide any time frame around this. We thank the Mountain Rescue colleagues for their constant support and everyone who helped in the search.”
