Tom Voyce was over drink-drive limit when he drove into ford, inquest is told

• Former England rugby player died during Storm Darragh

• Coroner rules death in December 2024 was an accident

A former England rugby player who drowned trying to cross a swollen ford in his 4x4 during a storm was almost three times over the drink-drive limit, an inquest has been told. Tom Voyce, 43, died while trying to cross the River Aln in Northumberland in his Toyota Hilux in December, as Storm Darragh passed through the UK. His body was found days later in deep water after a major search.

An inquest at County Hall, Morpeth, Northumberland, was told that Mr Voyce had attended a shoot at his brother-in-law's farm on 7 December last year, then spent the evening with him and two other men in the Queen's Head pub in Glanton.