NOAH WOODS INQUEST REVEALS HOW THREE-YEAR-OLD LEFT PLAYGROUND BEFORE HE WAS FOUND DEAD

A three-year-old boy who was found dead in a Suffolk pond after a massive 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, 2026, after visiting an under-fives play area in Merriam Close, Brantham, with a relative.

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

NOAH LEFT THROUGH A GAP IN THE FENCE

At an inquest at Suffolk Coroner’s Court in Ipswich on September 25, Detective Chief Inspector Matthew Connick gave evidence about the moments before Noah disappeared.

He said Noah was being looked after by relatives as part of his normal routine.

CCTV footage showed Noah playing with his relative at the playground. The first recorded footage was at 2:13 p.m., while he was last seen playing at approximately 2:37 p.m.

The CCTV system was motion-activated and therefore did not provide continuous coverage, the hearing was told.

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

He headed in the direction of nearby Decoy Pond, while his relative followed closely behind and tried to keep up.

The relative shouted after him but lost sight of Noah after approximately 200 metres.

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

BODY FOUND IN DECOY POND

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

DCI Connick told the inquest that Noah was found approximately five metres from the bank, among submerged tree roots, at a point where the water was estimated to be 1.8 metres deep.

Noah’s identity was later formally confirmed by his family.

Suffolk Police said his death was not being treated as suspicious, although officers continued to carry out enquiries before submitting a file to the coroner.

The medical cause of death remains pending further investigation.

The inquest was opened and adjourned on September 25, with a further date yet to be fixed.

FAMILY REMEMBERS THEIR ‘HAPPY, CHEEKY, PLAYFUL’ BOY

Following the hearing, Noah’s family released a heartbreaking tribute through Suffolk Constabulary.

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 parents 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 speech delay but had been learning new words and had recently begun finding and using his voice.

His family said he had an especially close relationship with his baby brother, whom he loved spending time with and making laugh.

Noah’s father, Rhys Woods, previously described his son as the “sweetest and most innocent little boy”, saying he had “nothing but love to give.”

A COMMUNITY THAT SEARCHED FOR NOAH

The little boy’s disappearance prompted an extraordinary response from the local community.

Around 1,300 members of the public joined police officers, specialist search teams, emergency services and volunteers looking for Noah.

The operation involved multiple agencies, including the Metropolitan Police Dive Team, Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service, HM Coastguard, the National Police Air Service, the East of England Ambulance Service and Suffolk Lowland Search and Rescue.

Despite the enormous search effort, Noah was ultimately found in Decoy Pond the following day.

His family has now asked the public to remember him not only for the tragedy surrounding his death, but for the happy and affectionate little boy he was.

The inquest will continue at a later date as authorities work to establish the full circumstances surrounding Noah’s death.