Rugby star Tom over drink-drive limit when swept to death in storm

Inquest: Ex-player in river accident after night session in pub

- JEREMY ARMSTRONG

FORMER England rugby union ace Tom Voyce was almost three times the drink-drive limit when his vehicle was swept into a river during a storm, an inquest heard.

The 43-year-old had left a pub to drive home at 11.45pm after going shooting with friends last December 7, a hearing was told yesterday.

Investigators believe he had attempted to cross a ford in his Toyota Hilux and been deceived by the “mirage” of high water levels looking like the surface of the road.

His wife Anna, 42, reported him missing the next day, the hearing in Morpeth, Northumberland was told.

Police divers found his body in the River Aln around 700m from his 4x4.