Former England rugby player Tom Voyce was found to have nearly three times the legal alcohol limit in his blood when his vehicle was swept away in a ford during Storm Darragh, according to an inquest. Pathologist Dr. Clive Bloxham conducted a post mortem examination on the 43-year-old former international after he went missing on December 8 last year in Morpeth, Northumberland.
Voyce had been out shooting with his brother-in-law Hugh Wood before they visited the Queen’s Head in Glanton, Northumberland following the shoot on December 7. He left the pub around 11.45pm, and his wife Anna reported him missing the next day. The pathology report indicated that Voyce had 215 milligrams per 100 milliliters of blood, exceeding the legal limit of 80 milligrams per 100 milliliters.
Dr. Bloxham informed the senior coroner that despite no drugs being found in Voyce’s system, his blood alcohol level was significantly high at 215 milligrams per 100 milliliters, which is over two and a half times the legal limit. This high alcohol level likely impaired his coordination and judgment. The pathologist concluded that although alcohol did not directly cause his death, it was a notable finding in its own right.
The cause of Voyce’s death was determined to be immersion in water, with additional injuries to his hands and feet consistent with drowning after being in the water for several days. His body was recovered by a Northumbria Police diving team on December 12, approximately 700 meters from where his submerged Toyota Hilux was found in the River Aln, Northumberland four days earlier.
Voyce’s brother-in-law mentioned that their shooting plans were delayed due to heavy rainfall, and he last saw Voyce leaving the Queen’s Head around 11.45pm. The nearby roads were waterlogged from the rain, and Voyce likely had an eight-mile journey home. Following his tragic passing, Voyce’s widow expressed deep sorrow and emphasized her focus on their son Oscar.
Tom Voyce began his senior rugby career at Bath, then played for Wasps for six years, contributing to their European and domestic successes before joining Gloucester in 2009. He earned nine caps for England and participated in 220 Premiership matches before retiring in May 2013. The ongoing inquest is anticipated to conclude later today.