Two men have been arrested for a second time after the body of a 22-year-old British soldier was found in the River Tyne, as police investigate whether a disturbance and vehicle collision shortly before his death may have played a role in him entering the water.
Liam Potts, who was serving with the Coldstream Guards, disappeared after a night out with friends in Northumberland.
His body was discovered by specialist officers in the River Tyne near Wylam Bridge on Tuesday, August 18, three days after he was reported missing.
The latest arrests come as detectives attempt to establish what happened in the minutes between a reported collision on the bridge and Liam entering the river.
Two suspects re-arrested
Northumbria Police said two men, aged 22 and 23, have been detained in connection with the investigation.
The pair had initially been arrested on Monday before being released on bail. They were subsequently re-arrested on suspicion of manslaughter as detectives continued to examine the circumstances surrounding Liam’s disappearance.
They were released on bail again on Saturday evening.
Police have stressed that their investigation remains ongoing and that the arrests do not establish that the two men were responsible for Liam’s death.
Soldier disappeared after night out
Liam was last seen at around 12.20am on Saturday, August 15, as he travelled towards Wylam in Northumberland.
He was on leave from his duties with the Coldstream Guards at the time.
When he disappeared, Liam was wearing black joggers, black Nike trainers and a black T-shirt featuring white text and a diamond logo on the back. He was also wearing a gold chain.
His disappearance prompted an extensive search involving police officers, specialist teams and members of his family and friendship group.
Northumbria Police’s Marine Unit eventually located his body in the River Tyne close to Wylam Bridge.
Although formal identification had not yet taken place at the time of the latest police update, Liam’s next of kin had been informed.
Police investigate what happened on the bridge
Before Liam entered the river, Northumbria Police had received a report of a disturbance on Wylam Bridge followed by a collision involving a vehicle and a group of pedestrians.
A man and a woman in their 20s suffered serious injuries in the incident.
The woman has since been discharged from hospital, while the injured man remains receiving treatment.
Liam was present on the bridge at the time of the collision, but police have confirmed that he was not inside the vehicle and was not struck by it.
Investigators initially believed there was no indication of third-party involvement in his death.
However, further inquiries have since established that Liam entered the water within minutes of the collision, although the reason remains unknown.
Detectives are now investigating whether there was a connection between the collision and his decision to enter the river.
Detective urges public not to speculate
Detective Inspector Rachael Rutherford, the senior investigating officer from Northumbria Police, said the force’s thoughts remained with Liam’s family.
She stressed that the circumstances surrounding his death remained under investigation.
“The facts remain the same that Liam was on the bridge at the time of the collision, but he was not an occupant of the vehicle and was not struck by the vehicle,” she said.
Police inquiries had established that Liam entered the water “within minutes of the collision”, she added, but the reason why he did so had not yet been determined.
The re-arrests were carried out while detectives investigate whether the collision and Liam entering the river were connected.
Det Insp Rutherford acknowledged that the circumstances had generated confusion and speculation within the local community.
She said Liam was clearly a very popular young man and that police were determined to establish what happened so his family could have answers.
She also appealed to members of the public to avoid speculation online or within the community, warning that it could interfere with the ongoing investigation.
Police have asked people to respect the family’s privacy while inquiries continue.
Family remembers Liam as the “heart and soul” of every room
Liam’s family described him as someone whose personality left a lasting impression on everyone he met.
In a tribute, they said: “Once you met Pottsy, you could never forget him.”
They described him as the “heart and soul of any room” and said they would deeply miss his smile, laughter and the small things that made him who he was.
“Though time may pass, the love we have for you will never fade,” the family said.
They added that Liam would always be remembered and loved, and that his memory would live on among everyone whose life he had touched.
The investigation into his death remains ongoing, with detectives continuing to examine the events surrounding the disturbance and collision at Wylam Bridge and the moments immediately afterwards.
