Overview
- Northumbria Police’s marine unit recovered the body of 22-year-old Liam Potts from the River Tyne near Wylam Bridge on August 18 after a multi-day search that began when he was last seen leaving the bridge on August 15.
- Two men, aged 22 and 23, were re-arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and remain in custody while detectives pursue further enquiries into the case.
- Officers are investigating whether a reported disturbance at The Boathouse and a subsequent collision on Wylam Bridge involving a vehicle and pedestrians are connected to how Potts entered the water.
- Potts’s family paid tribute to him, thanked volunteers and emergency teams for their search efforts, and noted a GoFundMe set up to support the mountain rescue volunteers who assisted.
- The force’s Major Investigation Team now leads forensic and witness inquiries and has urged the public to avoid speculation and to respect the family’s privacy as enquiries continue.