Two men re-arrested on suspicion of manslaughter after soldier dies in River Tyne
Northumbria Police have taken two men into custody following the recovery of 22-year-old Coldstream Guards soldier Liam Potts from the River Tyne near Wylam Bridge.
Re-arrests and police custody
Northumbria Police have re-arrested two men on suspicion of manslaughter in connection with the death of 22-year-old Coldstream Guards soldier Liam Potts. The two suspects, aged 22 and 23, were taken into police custody on Saturday, 22 August, following earlier inquiries. The arrests follow the discovery of a body in the River Tyne on 18 August, three days after Potts was reported missing in Northumberland. Police officers confirmed that both suspects remain in custody as detectives continue their investigation into how the soldier died. Formal identification had not yet been concluded at the time of the initial recovery announcement.
Pub disturbance and bridge collision
The inquiry focuses on events that unfolded during the early hours of 15 August in the village of Wylam. Northumbria Police initially responded to reports of a disturbance taking place at The Boathouse pub. Shortly after the reported altercation, a vehicle collided with a group of pedestrians on nearby Wylam Bridge. The collision resulted in serious injuries for two pedestrians, identified as a man and a woman in their 20s. Medical personnel confirmed that neither victim suffered life-threatening harm. The woman has since been discharged from the hospital, whereas the injured man remains hospitalized for ongoing treatment.
Circumstances of the river disappearance
Investigators established that Potts was positioned on Wylam Bridge at the time the car struck the group of pedestrians. Police confirmed that the 22-year-old soldier was neither an occupant of the vehicle nor struck by it during the crash. Despite not being hit in the collision, Potts entered the River Tyne within minutes of the incident taking place on the bridge. Specialized units subsequently recovered his body close to Wylam Bridge on 18 August after an extensive three-day missing persons search. Detectives are now investigating whether the pub disturbance and the vehicle collision are directly linked to Potts entering the water.
- Disturbance reported at The Boathouse pub followed by a car collision with pedestrians on Wylam Bridge, after which Liam Potts enters the river.
- Northumbria Police recover the body of Liam Potts from the River Tyne near Wylam Bridge.
- Two men aged 22 and 23 are re-arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and placed in custody.
