A body has tragically been found in the River Tyne during the search for missing 22-year-old soldier Liam Potts.
The Northumberland man had not returned home after a night out with friends, sparking a desperate search which entered its fourth day.
Liam was last seen at about 12.20am on Saturday, August 15, heading into Wylam from Wylam Bridge.
Specialist officers from Northumbria Police’s Marine Unit made the discovery in the river close to Wylam Bridge yesterday (August 18).
Formal identification is yet to take place, but Liam’s next of kin have been notified and are being supported by specially-trained officers.
Northumbria Police said officers do not believe there was any third-party involvement in Liam’s death.
A report will now be prepared for the coroner.
A body has been found in the search for the missing Prudhoe man Liam Potts
(Image: North of Tyne Mountain Rescue Team)
Extensive searches werecarried out by Northumbria Police and a number of partner agencies, including HM Coastguard, North of Tyne Mountain and Northumberland National Park Mountain Rescue teams.
Liam’s family and friends were also understood to have been involved in the search.
The Northern Echo understands Liam, from Prudhoe, was a serving soldier with the Coldstream Guards and had completed his training at Catterick Garrison.
Before he disappeared, police were called to a disturbance at a nearby premises followed by a crash on Wylam Bridge involving a vehicle and a group of pedestrians.
A man and woman, both in their 20s, suffered serious injuries which are not believed to be life-threatening.
Two people in the vehicle fled the scene on foot before police arrived.
Two men, aged 22 and 23, were arrested in connection with the incident and have since been bailed.
Police confirmed Liam was on the bridge at the time of the crash, but said he was not an occupant of the vehicle and there were no reports suggesting he had been injured.
He subsequently left the scene.
Police and mountain rescue teams searching for missing Liam.
(Image: North News & Pictures Ltd)
READ MORE:
- Divers join search for missing soldier Liam Potts who vanished after night out
- Police searching for missing man Liam in Wylam believe he entered river
- Mountain rescue teams enter River Tyne in desperate search for missing Liam
- Search for missing man who vanished in early hours as family 'increasingly concerned'
Detective Chief Inspector Sarah Robson, of Northumbria Police, said: “This is an extremely sad development, and our thoughts are very much with Liam’s family and friends.
“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.”
The force had previously appealed for information about Liam, describing him as a white man, 6ft 3ins tall, of medium build with dark hair.
He had tattoos down his right arm and was last seen wearing black joggers, black Nike trainers, a black T-shirt with large text and a diamond logo on the back, and a gold chain.