Two men, aged 22 and 23, have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter in connection with the death of 22-year-old Coldstream Guards soldier Liam Potts. Potts disappeared on August 15 after a reported bar fight and a subsequent vehicle collision near Wylam Bridge in Northumberland. His body was found in the River Tyne on August 18.
Northumbria Police stated that prior to his disappearance, a report was made of a fight and a collision involving a vehicle and pedestrians on the bridge. Initially, two men were arrested and bailed in relation to this report. These individuals have since been re-arrested on suspicion of manslaughter as detectives investigate a potential link between the earlier incidents and Potts entering the water.
Authorities confirmed that Potts was not in the vehicle involved in the collision, nor was he struck by it. While initial findings upon the recovery of his body did not suggest third-party involvement, further inquiries led to the manslaughter arrests. Investigators are working to establish the reasons why Potts entered the water within minutes of the collision.
Potts was last seen around 12:20 a.m. on August 15 heading towards Wylam. Searches for him were conducted by Northumbria Police, HM Coastguard, and mountain rescue teams after he failed to return from a night out with friends. Specialist officers recovered a body on August 18, a short distance from Wylam Bridge. While formal identification has not yet taken place, Potts's next-of-kin have been informed.
A man and a woman, both in their 20s, sustained serious injuries during the collision on the bridge. The woman has since been discharged from the hospital, while the man continues to receive treatment.
In a statement, Senior Investigating Officer Detective Inspector Rachael Rutherford expressed that the thoughts of the police remain with Potts's family. She reiterated that Potts was on the bridge at the time of the collision but was not involved with the vehicle. The investigation aims to provide answers for the family, and the public has been asked to avoid speculation that could impact the ongoing inquiry. The family of Liam Potts described him as the "heart and soul of any room," remembering his smile, laugh, and the impact he had on those he met.