Former England rugby player Tom Voyce was nearly three times over the drink-drive limit when he drove his 4x4 into a swollen ford during Storm Darragh, an inquest has heard. The 43-year-old died while attempting to cross the River Aln in Northumberland in his Toyota Hilux on 7 December 2024. His body was found days later in deep water after a major search.
An inquest at County Hall in Morpeth heard that Mr Voyce had attended a shooting party at his brother-in-law’s farm before spending the evening at the Queen’s Head pub in Glanton. Coroner Andrew Hetherington ruled the death an accident, noting that Mr Voyce had not taken his usual route home that night. Hugh Wood, brother of Voyce’s widow Anna, said he last saw him at about 11.45pm in the bar. The shoot had ended at 5.30pm with everyone extremely wet, and alcohol was consumed in the pub, but Mr Wood observed no ill-effects in Mr Voyce.
Pathologist Dr Clive Bloxham told the hearing that a toxicology test revealed 215 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, nearly three times the legal drink-drive limit of 80 milligrams. Dr Bloxham said this level would have impaired Mr Voyce’s coordination and judgment, leading to a significant degree of intoxication and impaired decision-making prior to his death. The cause of death was immersion in water, with no signs of external or internal damage.
Publican Lisa Chisholm estimated Mr Voyce had consumed about four bottles of Magners cider and bought drinks for others. She described him as in good spirits. Police accident investigators found that part of the Hilux’s number plate had broken off at the water’s edge, indicating the vehicle approached the ford at speed. The car was in reverse gear, suggesting Mr Voyce may have tried to reverse when the vehicle stalled. It was then damaged by repeatedly hitting a footbridge before water levels dropped.
DC Victoria Henderson said a ford warning sign would have been visible, but the depth pole was submerged. Coroner Hetherington noted that flooding would have given the illusion of a flat road when the ford dropped 6ft. Mrs Voyce asked about barriers at the ford, and the coroner said he would pass the suggestion to Northumberland County Council and Northumbria Police. In a statement, Mrs Voyce said: “Absolutely devastated and heartbroken doesn’t even describe how we feel.”
