Tom Voyce: Body confirmed to be that of ex-England rugby player after car was swept into river during Storm Darragh

The wife of former England rugby player Tom Voyce has said she is "absolutely devastated" after a body discovered in a Northumberland river was confirmed to be his.

In a statement released on Friday, Anna Voyce said: "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 coordinating 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."

Northumbria Police previously said they believed the rugby star had been swept away after he tried to drive across a flooded river in Storm Darragh after being out with friends on Saturday night.

The body of the 43-year-old was found downstream from Abberwick Ford on the Rilver Aln outside Alnwick, Northumberland.

Concerns were first raised for Voyce on Sunday after he failed to return home.

A major search operation was launched involving Northumbria Police, drones, the police helicopter, coastguard officers and the North of Tyne and Northumberland National Park Mountain Rescue Teams. Family and friends of the much-loved former rugby player also joined the search.

Officers do not believe there to be any third-party involvement and a report will be prepared for the coroner.

The world of rugby expressed its shock and sadness when he went missing, including messages from World Cup winners Matt Dawson and Lawrence Dallaglio, who lost his sister in the Marchioness disaster in the Thames in 1989.

In a tribute posted on Instagram, Dallaglio wrote: "I know too well that 'goodbyes' hurt the most, when the story wasn't finished, that some of the ones we love are only meant to walk with us to a certain point in our lives before we have to say our goodbyes and continue on without them.

"My heart goes out to Anna and their beautiful family and friends. Tom, thank you for the memories, the wins, the losses, the laughs, the love, the success and the hugs. Your smile will be etched in our hearts forever."

England head coach Steve Borthwick paid tribute to the "wonderfully gifted" former international whom he played alongside.

"It is with profound sadness that we mourn the passing of Tom Voyce... a truly lovely man," said Borthwick.

"Tom left a lasting impact on everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him and created memories that will stay with all who watched him play.

"On behalf of everyone at England Rugby, we extend our deepest condolences to Tom's family, friends and loved ones. Our thoughts are with them during this incredibly difficult time."

Fellow former England international Mike Tindall, who played with Voyce at Gloucester, paid tribute to his former team-mate in a post shared by his podcast The Good, The Bad, And The Rugby, which read: "He epitomised rugby as a game for all shapes and sizes, punching well above his weight.

"His ability to break tackles and his durability were exceptional. He was a great character off the pitch."

His podcast co-host and former England star, James Haskell, added of Voyce: "He was a team-mate, a friend and an incredible player - someone I admired.

"He will be sorely missed by everybody."

Voyce won nine caps for England during his career and spent six years at Wasps, from 2003 to 2009, where he helped them win European and domestic titles, moving there from Bath and then leaving to join Gloucester in 2009.

He made 220 Premiership appearances before retiring in May 2013.

It was understood Voyce, who was raised in Cornwall, relocated to Northumberland recently after living in London.