NOAH WOODS INQUEST REVEALS HOW THREE-YEAR-OLD LEFT PLAYGROUND BEFORE BEING FOUND IN POND

NEW DETAILS have emerged in the heartbreaking case of three-year-old Noah Woods, as an inquest heard how the little boy left a Suffolk playground through a gap in a fence before disappearing toward a nearby pond.

Noah, from Brantham, Suffolk, went missing on the afternoon of September 15, 2026, after visiting an under-fives play area in Merriam Close with a relative.

His disappearance triggered a huge search involving police, emergency services and around 1,300 members of the public.

The following afternoon, Metropolitan Police divers found Noah’s body in nearby Decoy Pond.

Suffolk Police have said his death is not being treated as suspicious, although investigations into the circumstances continue.

CCTV SHOWED NOAH PLAYING JUST MINUTES BEFORE HE DISAPPEARED

At an inquest hearing in Ipswich on September 25, Detective Chief Inspector Matthew Connick gave evidence about the events leading up to Noah’s disappearance.

The hearing was told that Noah was being cared for by relatives as part of his normal routine.

He and a relative walked to the under-fives play area in Merriam Close.

CCTV footage showed Noah playing with his relative.

The first available footage was recorded at approximately 2:13 p.m., while the last footage showing Noah playing was recorded at around 2:37 p.m.

However, police noted that the CCTV system was motion-activated and therefore did not provide continuous coverage of the area.

HE LEFT THROUGH A GAP IN THE FENCE

According to DCI Connick, Noah eventually left the play area through a gap in the fence.

He then entered a memorial garden through an open gate.

From there, the three-year-old headed in the direction of Decoy Pond.

His relative followed closely behind, attempting to keep up with him and shouting after him.

But after approximately 200 metres, the relative could no longer see Noah.

Police were then called and a large-scale search operation began.

The new evidence provides a clearer account of how Noah left the playground, but the inquest has not yet established every detail of what happened after he disappeared from view.

1,300 PEOPLE JOINED THE SEARCH

News of Noah’s disappearance quickly spread throughout the local community.

Around 1,300 members of the public joined police officers, emergency workers and specialist search teams in the effort to find him.

Suffolk Police received assistance from HM Coastguard, Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service, the National Police Air Service, the Metropolitan Police Dive Team, Suffolk Lowland Search and Rescue and other emergency agencies.

The scale of the response reflected the hope that Noah could still be found alive.

But on September 16, the search ended in tragedy.

Metropolitan Police divers recovered the body of a child from Decoy Pond.

The child was later formally identified as Noah.

BODY FOUND FIVE METRES FROM THE BANK

The inquest heard that Noah was found approximately five metres from the bank, within submerged tree roots.

The depth of the water at that location was estimated at approximately 1.8 metres.

Paramedics confirmed Noah’s death at 4:31 p.m. on September 16.

His mother, Charlie Peck, formally identified him at Ipswich Hospital later that evening.

A postmortem examination was carried out at Addenbrooke’s Hospital mortuary in Cambridge.

However, the medical cause of death was recorded as pending further investigation.

FAMILY REMEMBERS A “HAPPY, CHEEKY, PLAYFUL” BOY

Following Noah’s death, his family released an emotional tribute through Suffolk Police.

They described him as a “happy, cheeky, playful three-year-old boy” who loved to laugh and giggle and brought joy wherever he went.

The family said Noah was at the centre of a loving household with his parents and baby brother.

They also said he had been undergoing an assessment for autism, although he had not received a diagnosis.

He had mild hearing loss and was speech delayed, but his family said he was learning new words and had recently begun finding and using his voice.

His father, Rhys Woods, described him as the “sweetest and most innocent little boy, with nothing but love to give.”

TRIBUTES CONTINUE ACROSS SUFFOLK

The tragedy prompted an extraordinary wave of support.

People left flowers, toys and messages at the playground where Noah was last seen.

His story also received attention far beyond Suffolk.

Football players wore black armbands during Everton’s home match against Ipswich Town as a tribute to Noah.

A fundraising campaign set up for Noah’s family also received widespread support, with donations surpassing £100,000.

INQUEST ADJOURNED

The inquest into Noah’s death was opened in Ipswich on September 25 and then adjourned.

The hearing lasted only around six minutes.

Assistant Suffolk Coroner Jyoti Gill expressed her condolences to Noah’s family and everyone affected by his death before adjourning the proceedings to a date yet to be fixed.

Police still have inquiries to complete before submitting a file to the coroner.

At this stage, authorities have said there is no indication that Noah’s death was suspicious.

The latest hearing has answered some questions about how Noah managed to leave the playground and where he was found, but the investigation into the circumstances of his death remains ongoing.

For those who knew him, however, Noah’s story is ultimately about much more than the circumstances of his final hours.

He was a three-year-old boy who loved to laugh, loved his family and had only just begun finding his voice.

And now, a grieving community is determined that he will not be forgotten.