Former England Rugby Player Drowns in Storm Floods, Nearly Triple Drink-Drive Limit Confirmed

Former England rugby player Tom Voyce died in December after his 4×4 was swept into the River Aln in Northumberland during Storm Darragh while attempting to cross a flooded ford. An inquest revealed that Voyce was nearly three times over the legal drink-drive limit at the time, with a blood alcohol level of 215mg per 100ml, which impaired his coordination and judgment but was not the direct cause of death. He had attended a shoot and then spent the evening at the Queens Head pub before setting off for his home in Alnwick, a journey of about eight miles. Coroner Andrew Hetherington ruled the death accidental, noting the storm conditions and that Voyce took an unusual route home. His body was recovered from deep water days later, and the vehicle was found in reverse gear, though it is unclear if he tried to escape or was swept away. The inquest highlighted the dangerous conditions, including flooding and strong winds, which likely contributed to the fatal accident.