“THE HAPPY LITTLE BOY HE WAS” — NOAH WOODS REMEMBERED BY HIS FAMILY AFTER TRAGIC DEATH

Three-year-old Noah Woods is being remembered by his family as a happy, playful little boy whose laughter and affection brought joy to everyone around him.

Noah disappeared from a playground in Brantham, Suffolk, on September 15 after becoming separated from a relative. A huge search operation followed, with around 1,300 members of the public joining emergency services in the effort to find him.

The following day, Metropolitan Police divers recovered the body of a child from nearby Decoy Pond. Suffolk Police later confirmed the child was Noah. His death is not being treated as suspicious.

“HE WAS AT THE CENTRE OF OUR WORLD”

In a tribute issued through Suffolk Constabulary, Noah’s family asked people to remember him for the happy little boy he was — rather than simply for the tragedy surrounding his death.

“Noah was a happy, cheeky, playful three-year-old boy who loved to laugh, loved to giggle and who brought joy wherever he went,” the family said.

They described Noah as being at the centre of a loving family with his mother, father and baby brother.

His family also spoke about the special relationship he shared with his younger brother.

“He absolutely adored his little baby brother,” they said, describing how Noah loved spending time with him, entertaining him and making him laugh.

INQUEST REVEALS HOW NOAH LEFT THE PLAYGROUND

An inquest into Noah’s death was opened in Ipswich on September 25 and adjourned to a later date.

Detective Chief Inspector Matthew Connick told the hearing that Noah had been visiting an under-fives play area with a relative as part of his normal routine.

CCTV showed Noah playing in the playground, with footage recorded at 2:13 p.m. and again at 2:37 p.m.

The officer said Noah then left the play area “through a gap in the fence” before passing through an open gate leading from a nearby memorial garden.

He headed in the direction of Decoy Pond while the relative tried to follow him.

After about 200 metres, the relative could no longer see Noah, the inquest heard.

Police and emergency services launched a major search involving specialist teams, search dogs, the Metropolitan Police dive team, the Coastguard, fire and rescue services and hundreds of volunteers.

Noah was eventually found approximately five metres from the pond’s bank, among submerged tree roots. The water was estimated to be around 1.8 metres deep.

His medical cause of death remains pending further investigation.

A FATHER’S HEARTBREAK

Noah’s father, Rhys Woods, previously described his son as the “sweetest and most innocent little boy” and said there were “no words to describe the pain” of losing him.

He thanked the thousands of people who joined the search, saying Noah had been taken into the hearts of people across the country.

The family has since asked for privacy as they continue to grieve.

For those who knew Noah, however, the memories they want to preserve are not of the search or the tragedy.

They are of his laughter.

His cheeky smile.

His love for his baby brother.

And the happiness he brought during his short three years of life.

As his family put it, they want Noah to be remembered as “the happy little boy that he was.”