NOAH WOODS, 3, LEFT PLAYGROUND THROUGH GAP IN FENCE BEFORE HE WAS FOUND DEAD IN POND

BRANTHAM, SUFFOLK — The disappearance of 3-year-old Noah Woods ended in tragedy after the little boy left a children’s playground through a gap in a fence, headed toward a nearby pond and was found dead the following day.

Noah disappeared on the afternoon of September 15, 2026, while visiting a play area on Merriam Close in Brantham, Suffolk, with a relative.

His disappearance triggered a huge search involving emergency services, specialist teams and thousands of members of the public. Police divers eventually recovered his body from Decoy Pond on September 16.

An inquest into his death was opened at Suffolk Coroner’s Court in Ipswich on September 25 and then adjourned. Police have said his death is not being treated as suspicious, while the medical cause of death remains pending further investigation.

CCTV SHOWED NOAH LEAVING THE PLAY AREA

At the inquest, Detective Chief Inspector Matthew Connick said Noah had been with a relative as part of what authorities described as his normal routine.

CCTV footage showed Noah playing in the under-5s area between approximately 2:13 p.m. and 2:37 p.m.

The cameras were motion-activated and therefore did not provide continuous footage.

Investigators said Noah then left through a gap in the fence leading toward a memorial garden. From there, he went through an open gate and continued in the direction of Decoy Pond.

His relative followed him and attempted to keep up.

The officer told the inquest that the relative shouted after Noah, but after approximately 200 meters, the child was no longer visible.

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

MASSIVE SEARCH ENDS IN TRAGEDY

The search quickly grew into a major community effort.

More than 1,300 members of the public joined emergency workers and specialist search teams looking for Noah around Brantham.

Police officers, specialist search teams, firefighters, coastguards and other emergency personnel searched the area, while specialist divers were brought in to examine Decoy Pond.

On the afternoon of September 16, Metropolitan Police divers recovered the body of a child from the pond.

The body was found approximately five meters from the bank, at a depth estimated at 1.8 meters, among submerged tree roots.

Paramedics confirmed Noah’s death at 4:31 p.m. His mother, Charlie Peck, later formally identified him at Ipswich Hospital.

The exact medical cause of death had not been established when the inquest was opened.

QUESTIONS SURROUND THE PLAYGROUND FENCE

The inquest has brought renewed attention to the fencing around the playground.

Brantham Parish Council, which is responsible for the play area, said there was a break in the internal fencing intended to separate the playground from the memorial garden.

The council said the wider area was nevertheless enclosed by perimeter fencing.

The circumstances surrounding how Noah was able to leave the children’s play area remain part of the wider investigation.

NOAH REMEMBERED AS A HAPPY LITTLE BOY

After his death, Noah’s family asked people to remember him for the joy he brought to those around him.

They described him as a happy, cheeky and playful 3-year-old who loved to laugh and giggle.

He lived with his parents and baby brother and was described by his family as being at the center of their world.

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

The family has asked for privacy while continuing to grieve their loss.

10 NHS STAFF REMOVED FROM DUTY OVER DATA BREACH

A separate investigation has emerged following Noah’s death.

East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust confirmed that 10 employees had been removed from active duty or suspended after concerns were raised that Noah’s medical records may have been accessed without authorization.

The trust launched an urgent internal investigation and apologized to Noah’s family for the additional distress caused by the breach.

The matter has also been reported to the Information Commissioner’s Office, which is making its own inquiries.

The trust said disciplinary action could follow depending on the findings of its investigation.

The records investigation is separate from the police investigation and inquest into Noah’s death.

A COMMUNITY THAT SEARCHED FOR ANSWERS

For more than a day, people across Brantham and surrounding areas joined the search for Noah.

Some volunteers traveled from outside the area to help, while emergency crews worked around the clock.

The search ended with the discovery of Noah’s body, leaving the community devastated.

His inquest has now been adjourned until a future date.

For his family, the investigation continues, but their message about Noah remains simple: he was a much-loved little boy whose short life brought happiness to the people around him.

As authorities continue examining the circumstances of his death, the family and community are left waiting for further answers about what happened during the final moments of Noah’s life.