Former England rugby player Tom Voyce was found to have nearly three times the legal alcohol limit in his blood when his vehicle was swept away in a ford during Storm Darragh, according to an inquest. Pathologist Dr. Clive Bloxham conducted a post mortem examination on the 43-year-old former international player after he went missing on December 8 last year in Morpeth, Northumberland.
Investigations revealed that Voyce, along with his brother-in-law Hugh Wood, had been out shooting before heading to a pub in Glanton, Northumberland. Voyce left the pub around 11:45 pm, and his wife reported him missing the next day. The post mortem report indicated that Voyce had 215 milligrams per 100 milliliters of blood, exceeding the legal limit of 80 milligrams per 100 milliliters.
Dr. Bloxham stated that while alcohol consumption did not directly cause Voyce’s death, his high blood alcohol level would have likely impaired his coordination and judgment. The cause of death was determined to be immersion in the water, with additional injuries consistent with drowning after being in the water for several days.
Voyce’s body was recovered by a Northumbria Police diving team four days after his vehicle, a Toyota Hilux, was found submerged in the River Aln, Northumberland. The police search revealed that the car had been swept downstream from a ford at Abberwick due to storm water.
Hugh Wood confirmed that the heavy rainfall had delayed their shooting party on the day before Voyce’s death. He last saw Voyce at the pub before his disappearance and noted the waterlogged roads in the area due to the rain.
Following Voyce’s tragic death, his widow expressed profound sorrow and stated that her main focus is their son Oscar. Voyce had a successful rugby career, playing for Bath, Wasps, and Gloucester, earning nine England caps and retiring in May 2013 after making 220 Premiership appearances. The inquest is ongoing and is expected to conclude later today.