Two men in their 20s have been re-arrested on suspicion of manslaughter in connection with the death of Liam Potts, whose body was recovered from the River Tyne near Wylam Bridge. Northumbria Police confirmed the re-arrests on Saturday, August 22, as the force's Major Investigation Team (MIT) leads the inquiry.
Liam, 22, was reported missing on Saturday, August 15, after a night out with friends. His body was found in the river a short distance from Wylam Bridge on Tuesday, August 18. Tributes have since been left at the bridge, with his family describing him as the "heart and soul of any room".
Disturbance and collision on Wylam Bridge
Before Liam's disappearance, police received a report of a disturbance at The Boathouse and a subsequent collision on Wylam Bridge involving a vehicle and a group of pedestrians. A man and a woman, both in their 20s, sustained serious but not life-threatening injuries in the collision. The woman has been discharged from hospital, while the man remains there for further treatment.
Liam was not an occupant of the vehicle and was not struck by it. He was last seen leaving the bridge on foot towards Wylam. At the time his body was found, officers did not believe there was any third-party involvement in his disappearance.
Enquiries into link between collision and death
Following further enquiries, officers are now investigating whether the circumstances of the disturbance and the collision directly led to Liam entering the water. The two re-arrested men, aged 22 and 23, are currently in police custody.
Detective Inspector Rachael Rutherford, Senior Investigating Officer at Northumbria Police, said: "Our thoughts remain with Liam’s family during this difficult time. The facts remain the same that Liam was on the bridge at the time of the collision, but he was not an occupant of the vehicle and was not struck by the vehicle."
She added: "Enquiries have revealed that Liam, for reasons yet to be established, entered the water within minutes of the collision. We have therefore made the further re-arrests as we are looking to establish whether there is any link between the collision and Liam entering the water."
Appeal for information
Det Insp Rutherford acknowledged community speculation, saying: "We know there has been a lot of confusion and speculation in the community. It’s clear that Liam was a very popular young man. We are committed to finding answers for Liam’s family and we will continue to provide updates on our investigation."
She urged the public to avoid speculation online and in communities, as it could impact the investigation, and asked people to respect the family's privacy. Anyone with information should contact Northumbria Police via social media, the live chat or report forms on the force's website, or call 101, quoting reference number NP-20260814-0016.
