The widow of former England rugby player Tom Voyce said the family have been “overwhelmed” by the support they have received since he was swept away while driving across a swollen river.
The 43-year-old former wing’s car was washed away crossing a ford on the River Aln near Alnwick, Northumberland, last weekend during Storm Darragh.
Following several days of intensive searches, involving the emergency services as well as local volunteers, a body was found in the river on Thursday, several hundred metres downstream from the ford.
Members of a search and rescue team search through the debris in the river during the search operation at Abberwick Ford on the River Aln near Alnwick, Northumberland (Owen Humphreys/PA)
The body has now been officially confirmed to be that of Mr Voyce.
His wife Anna said in a statement: “Absolutely devastated and heartbroken doesn’t even describe how we feel.
“My main focus now is our son Oscar, having done what he asked, ‘find Daddy’.
“All of Tom’s family were involved in the search.
“I will be forever grateful to my brothers Hugh and Jamie, Aidan Philipson and Garry Whitfield for co-ordinating the search party working alongside the police teams.
“Tom would be blown away by the amount of people that were out there helping.
“We have all been overwhelmed by the support of friends, many travelling from far afield to help with the search.
“We are just so lucky to live in such a special community that pulled together to find Tom.”