Rugby community 'devastated' as search for Tom Voyce goes on

The rugby assemblage has rallied astir the loved ones of erstwhile England rugby planetary Tom Voyce, who went missing successful an country flooded by Storm Darragh.

Police fear Mr Voyce has died aft trying to transverse Abberwick Ford, adjacent Alnwick, Northumberland, successful his car which was past pulled on by the existent of the river.

Matt Dawson, who played alongside Mr Voyce astatine Wasps betwixt 2004 and 2006, said helium could not "express his sadness".

Premiership Rugby said it was "devastated" and reasoning astir Mr Voyce's loved ones.

A hunt has been ongoing since Sunday lunchtime erstwhile the 43-year-old did not instrumentality location from an evening with friends.

His conveyance has since been found, but a spokesperson for Northumbria Police said: "It is believed successful his attempts to flight helium has been swept distant and tragically died."

The rugby assemblage has explicit its enactment for Mr Voyce's family.

His woman Anna and household expressed their gratitude for each the assistance and enactment from police, friends and the section community.

Mr Voyce was capped 9 times for England from 2001 until 2006 and played for Wasps, Bath and Gloucester earlier retiring from the athletics successful 2013.

World Cup winning England scrum-half Matt Dawson wrote connected Instagram: "One of life's fantastic humans... I can't explicit my sadness close now... All the Dawsons nonstop their emotion & spot to Anna and the full family."

British & Irish Lions said they sent their "heartfelt thoughts and prayers" to Mr Voyce's household and friends "during this profoundly distressing time".

Premiership Rugby added: "Everyone astatine Premiership Rugby is devastated by the quality regarding Tom Voyce.

"We nonstop our thoughts and prayers to his household and friends."

Bath Rugby said: "Our thoughts and prayers are with the household and friends of Tom Voyce astatine this incredibly distressing time."

Penryn Rugby Football Club, 1 of Mr Voyce's archetypal clubs successful Cornwall, said: "Our thoughts and prayers spell to Tom's family, friends and everyone affected."

Storm Darragh brought terrible upwind to the UK from the aboriginal hours of Saturday morning, prompting a fig of flood warnings.

The hunt has included specializer officers from the Northumbria Police's Marine Section, the National Police Air Service, drones and canine handlers.

Volunteers from the 2 Mountain Rescue teams based successful Northumberland person besides been assisting, alongside Mr Voyce's household and friends.