Two men arrested on suspicion of manslaughter following the death of soldier Liam Potts have been released on bail, Northumbria Police has confirmed. The 22-year-old's body was found in the River Tyne at Wylam on Tuesday after he had been missing since the early hours of last Saturday.
Liam was reported missing after a night out with friends, prompting an extensive search in Northumberland by his family and friends. Days later, officers confirmed that a body had been located close to Wylam Bridge.
Men released on bail
Northumbria Police's Major Investigation Team said the two men, aged 22 and 23, have been released on bail, with enquiries into the incident continuing. Officers are working to understand the full circumstances of what happened.
After the arrests, Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Inspector Rachael Rutherford, 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."
Investigation continues
Detective Inspector Rutherford 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."
She said: "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."
Appeal for information
Detective Inspector Rutherford urged people to avoid speculation, saying: "We would remind people to avoid speculation both online and in our communities as this could impact the ongoing investigation. We would continue to ask that people respect the family’s privacy at this tragic time."
Anyone with information which could help should send Northumbria Police a direct message on social media or use the live chat and report forms on the Force’s website. For those unable to make contact via the above ways, call 101, quoting reference number NP-20260814-0016.
