NOAH WOODS INQUEST REVEALS HOW THREE-YEAR-OLD LEFT PLAYGROUND BEFORE HIS DEATH

A three-year-old boy who was found dead in a Suffolk pond after a huge search had left a children’s play area through a gap in the fence, an inquest has heard.

Noah Woods, from East Bergholt, Suffolk, disappeared on the afternoon of September 15 after becoming separated from a relative while visiting an under-fives playground in Brantham.

His disappearance triggered one of the largest community searches in the area, with around 1,300 members of the public joining police, emergency services and specialist search teams in the effort to find him.

NOAH LEFT THROUGH A GAP IN THE FENCE

An inquest into Noah’s death opened at Suffolk Coroner’s Court in Ipswich on September 25.

Detective Chief Inspector Matthew Connick told the hearing that Noah had been in the care of relatives as part of his normal routine that day.

CCTV footage showed Noah playing with a relative inside the playground.

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

However, police stressed that the CCTV was motion-activated and therefore did not provide continuous coverage of everything happening in the area.

DCI Connick said Noah subsequently left the play area through a gap in the fence, entering a memorial garden before continuing through an open gate.

He then headed in the direction of Decoy Pond.

The relative who was caring for him followed closely behind and shouted after him, according to evidence given to the inquest.

After approximately 200 metres, however, the relative could no longer see Noah.

Police were then called and a major search operation began.

A MASSIVE SEARCH FOR THE MISSING BOY

The search quickly grew as police, emergency services and members of the public scoured Brantham and the surrounding area.

Specialist teams from Suffolk Police were joined by HM Coastguard, Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service, the National Police Air Service and the Metropolitan Police Dive Team.

Volunteers from Suffolk Lowland Search and Rescue also took part, alongside ambulance personnel and other agencies.

Approximately 1,300 members of the public joined the search for Noah, with volunteers searching roads, paths, fields and areas surrounding the pond.

The search continued through the night.

The following afternoon, September 16, Metropolitan Police divers searching Decoy Pond recovered the body of a child from the water.

The child was later formally identified as Noah.

Suffolk Police said his death was not being treated as suspicious.

BODY FOUND AMONG SUBMERGED TREE ROOTS

At the inquest, investigators provided further details about where Noah was found.

His body was located approximately five metres from the bank, among submerged tree roots.

The water was around 1.8 metres deep at the location.

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

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

A post-mortem examination was carried out at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge.

The medical cause of death was recorded as pending further investigation, meaning the final cause had not been established at the opening of the inquest.

The inquest was subsequently opened and adjourned, with a further date to be fixed.

FAMILY REMEMBERS A “HAPPY, CHEEKY, PLAYFUL” BOY

Following the hearing, Noah’s 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 lived with his mother, father and baby brother and was at the centre of their world.

They also revealed that Noah 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 had been learning new words and had recently begun finding and using his voice more often.

They remembered his voice as something uniquely special.

The family also said Noah adored his baby brother and loved spending time with him, entertaining him and making him laugh.

His father, Rhys Woods, previously described his son as the “sweetest and most innocent little boy”, saying the family was devastated by his death.

A COMMUNITY THAT REFUSED TO STOP SEARCHING

The scale of the search showed how deeply Noah’s disappearance affected the local community.

Hundreds of volunteers joined professional search teams, while people who had never met the family travelled to Brantham to help look for the missing child.

Tributes, flowers and toys were later left near the playground and around the area where Noah was last seen.

A fundraising campaign for Noah’s family also received an extraordinary response, with more than £100,000 raised within days of his death.

For those who joined the search, the discovery of Noah’s body brought a devastating end to days of hope and uncertainty.

INQUEST ADJOURNED

The opening of the inquest has provided the first detailed account of how Noah left the playground and how the initial search began.

However, several questions remain under investigation, including the final medical cause of death.

Suffolk Police have said they are continuing enquiries before submitting a file to the coroner.

The inquest has been adjourned to a date yet to be fixed.

For Noah’s family, however, the focus is now on remembering the little boy they loved — not simply the circumstances surrounding his death.

A happy, cheeky and playful three-year-old who loved to laugh, loved his baby brother and brought joy to the people around him.

Noah Woods was just three years old. His family says his voice, his laughter and his love will stay with them forever.