NOAH WOODS — NEW DETAILS EMERGE AS INQUEST EXAMINES HOW THREE-YEAR-OLD REACHED POND

The inquest into the death of three-year-old Noah Woods has heard new details about the moments before the little boy disappeared from a playground in Brantham, Suffolk.

Noah went missing on the afternoon of September 15, 2026, after becoming separated from a relative during a visit to a children’s play area in Merriam Close.

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

The following day, police divers recovered Noah’s body from Decoy Pond, a lake in the village.

Police have said his death is not being treated as suspicious, although enquiries remain ongoing and the circumstances are being considered by the coroner.

NOAH LEFT THROUGH A GAP IN THE FENCE

At an inquest hearing in Ipswich on September 25, Detective Chief Inspector Matthew Connick told the court that CCTV footage showed Noah playing at the playground with a relative.

The footage was recorded between approximately 2:13 p.m. and 2:37 p.m., although the camera was motion-activated and therefore did not provide continuous coverage.

According to police, Noah then left the play area through a gap in the fence.

He moved toward a memorial garden and passed through an open gate before heading in the direction of Decoy Pond.

His relative followed closely behind and attempted to keep up with him.

Police told the inquest that the relative shouted after Noah, but after approximately 200 metres, the child could no longer be seen.

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

A MASSIVE SEARCH FOR NOAH

The search brought together a wide range of emergency services and specialist teams.

Suffolk Police worked alongside the Metropolitan Police Dive Team, HM Coastguard, Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service, the National Police Air Service, ambulance crews and Suffolk Lowland Search and Rescue.

Members of the public also turned out in large numbers.

Suffolk Constabulary said approximately 1,300 people helped search for Noah during the operation.

On September 16, Metropolitan Police divers eventually located a child’s body in Decoy Pond.

The body was found approximately five metres from the bank, among submerged tree roots, at an estimated depth of 1.8 metres.

The child was formally identified as Noah the following day.

HIS FAMILY WANTS NOAH REMEMBERED FOR WHO HE WAS

Following his death, Noah’s family released an emotional tribute describing him as a “happy, cheeky, playful” little boy who loved laughing and playing.

They said he lived with his mother, father and baby brother and was “at the centre of our world.”

The family also revealed that Noah had mild hearing loss and speech delay and was undergoing an assessment for autism, although he had not received a diagnosis.

They said he had been learning new words and had only recently begun finding and using his voice.

His family described his relationship with his younger brother as particularly special, saying Noah adored him and loved making him laugh.

They also spoke about Noah’s weekly trips to the park with a treasured relative.

According to the family, every Tuesday since he was born, Noah would visit the park with that relative, where they would play chase, run around and explore the playground together.

Those ordinary moments have now become memories the family says they will treasure forever.

“REMEMBER HIM RUNNING, PLAYING CHASE AND GIGGLING”

The family has asked people to remember Noah not simply through the circumstances of his death, but through the little boy he was in life.

They said they wanted his final memory to be one of joy — of Noah running, playing, laughing and enjoying time with the people he loved.

Noah’s mother, Charlie, also made a simple request to other parents: to hold their children a little tighter, cherish their time together and never take those moments for granted.

INQUEST ADJOURNED

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

The hearing is expected to consider the circumstances surrounding his disappearance and death, including the events leading from the playground to Decoy Pond.

At this stage, police have not treated the death as suspicious. The discovery of his body was initially described as unexplained, and further enquiries are being completed before information is submitted to the coroner.

For Noah’s family, however, the tragedy has already left an unimaginable loss.

The huge community search that brought thousands of people together ultimately ended in heartbreak.

Now, as the inquest continues, his family says they want the three-year-old to be remembered for the laughter, affection and happiness he brought to those around him — the happy little boy he was.