A body has been recovered from the River Tyne in the search for a Coldstream Guard who vanished after attending Queen Elizabeth II's funeral and subsequently went missing following a night out.
Liam Potts, 22, disappeared around 12:20 a.m. on Saturday in the village of Wylam, Northumberland. He was last seen on CCTV walking toward the village from Wylam Bridge, which crosses the River Tyne.
Specialist officers from Northumbria Police's marine unit discovered a body on Tuesday near the bridge. While formal identification is pending, Mr. Potts's next of kin have been informed of the discovery. Police stated that there is believed to be no third-party involvement in the incident.
Mr. Potts did not return home after his night out. He was last seen wearing black jogging bottoms, black Nike trainers, and a black T-shirt with a diamond logo and white text on the back. A gold chain was also visible in a CCTV image released by the police.
Officers had previously indicated that Mr. Potts might have entered the water, though it was unclear if he had exited. "This is an extremely sad development, and our thoughts are very much with Liam's family and friends," said Detective Chief Inspector Sarah Robson of Northumbria Police. "I would like to thank all of our officers, partners and volunteers for their assistance throughout the searches, along with everyone who shared our appeals and contacted us with information. We would continue to ask that people respect the family's privacy at this tragic time."
Mr. Potts's family and friends had also participated in the search efforts.
This disappearance occurred on the same night a car collided with two pedestrians on Wylam Bridge. Mr. Potts was not involved in the car incident, nor was he a victim of the collision, but he was observed walking in the vicinity.
Two men, aged 22 and 23, were arrested in connection with the crash. A man and a woman, both in their 20s, sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries following the incident, during which a car reportedly struck a group of pedestrians. The two arrested men have since been released on bail as the investigation continues.
Police had received a report concerning Mr. Potts's welfare on Saturday, the day of his disappearance. Officers were also called to a disturbance at a property located near where the soldier was last seen.