Overview
- Specialist marine and dive teams recovered a body close to Wylam Bridge on Tuesday, August 18, and Northumbria Police said formal identification was pending while next of kin have been informed.
- Media reporting and several local outlets have identified the missing person as 22‑year‑old soldier Liam Potts, who was last seen walking from the bridge in the early hours of Saturday, August 15.
- Police said there is believed to be no third‑party involvement in the death and officers are supporting the family as they continue enquiries.
- A late‑night disturbance and a collision on Wylam Bridge on August 15 left a man and woman seriously injured, and two men arrested in connection with the crash have since been released on bail while that probe continues.
- The search involved multi‑agency teams — Northumbria Police, mountain rescue volunteers, police boats and divers — and the force had asked the public to report information using reference NP-20260815-0424 while urging respect for the family’s privacy.