Former England rugby player Tom Voyce is feared to have died after he was said to have tried to cross a flood-swollen river in his car during Storm Darragh.
Northumbria Police believe the 43-year-old attempted to cross Abberwick Ford over the River Aln near Alnwick, Northumberland, before his vehicle was swept away with the current.
Police launched a search for the England wing after receiving a report on Sunday morning that he had not returned to his home following an evening with friends.
Officers have since recovered the car, but Mr Voyce, who has been missing since Saturday, is yet to be found. It is feared he was swept away while trying to escape.
The search has included 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 Mr Voyce’s family and friends.
Storm Darragh devastated the UK over the weekend after 96mph winds crushed cars, wrecked homes and uprooted trees, while heavy downpours caused rivers to burst their banks and flood the streets of nearby towns.
Northumbria Police said the ‘exceptionally heavy rain’ from Storm Darragh had ‘significantly’ increased the River Aln’s water level and flow.
Former England rugby player Tom Voyce (pictured playing for England in 2005) is believed to have died after apparently trying to cross a flood-swollen river in his car during Storm Darragh
Former rugby player Tom Voyce pictured with his wife Anna
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A force spokesperson said: ‘At this time, it is suspected Tom has attempted to cross Abberwick Ford in his car, which has then been pulled along with the current of the river.
‘Officers have since recovered his car, but sadly Tom is yet to be found. It is believed in his attempts to escape he has been swept away and tragically died.’
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.’
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.’
Mr Voyce had attempted crossing over the cross Abberwick Ford (pictured) over the River Aln near Alnwick, Northumberland, before his car was swept away with the current
Mr Voyce (pictured) 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
Tom Voyce pictured with former England and Wasps captain Lawrence Dallaglio
Tom Voyce and Danny Cipriani pose with the trophy after winning the Guinness Premiership Final in 2008
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 spokesperson said Mr Voyce’s wife Anna and all his family have expressed their gratitude for all the help and support from the police, friends and the local community in helping find Tom.
A Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service (NFRS) spokesperson said they were called to the scene at 2.10pm on Sunday by Northumbria Police.
‘We attended with our Swift Water Team and provided portable lighting units to assist the search,’ they said.
‘Our teams also secured the car to the bankside. NFRS has since been stood down by the police.
‘Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the missing person at this incredibly difficult time.’
Mr Voyce 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.
He made a total of 220 Premiership appearances before retiring in May 2013.
People cross a bridge over the River Wye after Storm Darragh hit the country, in Hereford on December 8
A woman walks next to flooding on a road after Storm Darragh hit the country, in Hereford on Sunday
Two people are confirmed to have died during Storm Darragh on Saturday.
Kher Hussain Shahin, 56, was killed after a tree fell on his car while driving in Erdington, Birmingham, and a man in his 40s, died after a tree fell on his van in Lancashire.
The fourth named storm of the season brought strong gusts to many parts of the country over the weekend, which saw tens of thousands of people without electricity.
More than 120 flood alerts and 35 flood warnings were in place on Monday morning, with warnings that water levels on the River Severn will remain high until Wednesday.
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