“HE WAS RIGHT THERE…” — NEW INQUEST DETAILS REVEAL HOW LITTLE NOAH WOODS SLIPPED THROUGH A GAP IN THE FENCE, PASSED AN OPEN GATE AND DISAPPEARED IN JUST MINUTES

THE FINAL MOMENTS BEFORE A THREE-YEAR-OLD VANISHED

Three-year-old Noah Woods was playing at a children’s playground in Brantham, Suffolk, on the afternoon of September 15 when a seemingly ordinary day suddenly became a desperate search.

New details heard at an inquest have now revealed more about the moments immediately before Noah disappeared.

He had been at the under-fives play area with a relative as part of his normal routine.

CCTV showed Noah playing between approximately 2:13 p.m. and 2:37 p.m., although investigators stressed that the motion-activated footage did not provide continuous coverage.

HE FOUND A GAP IN THE FENCE

According to Detective Chief Inspector Matthew Connick, Noah left the playground through a gap in the perimeter fence.

He then moved through a memorial garden before passing through an open gate and heading in the direction of nearby Decoy Pond.

His relative was close behind, trying to keep up with him.

The relative shouted after Noah, but after he had travelled around 200 metres, the little boy was no longer visible.

That was the moment the situation changed from a family outing into a major emergency.

THEN THE SEARCH BEGAN

Police were called and a huge search operation was launched across Brantham and the surrounding area.

Around 1,300 members of the public joined police, emergency services and specialist teams in the effort to find Noah.

People searched roads, paths, gardens and surrounding areas, hoping against hope that the little boy would be found safe.

But the following day brought the heartbreaking discovery the community had been desperately trying to avoid.

NOAH WAS FOUND AT DECOY POND

On September 16, Metropolitan Police divers searching Decoy Pond recovered Noah.

The inquest heard that he was found approximately five metres from the bank, among submerged tree roots, at a depth estimated at around 1.8 metres.

His death was confirmed by paramedics later that afternoon.

At the time, Suffolk Police said his death was not being treated as suspicious.

HIS FAMILY WANT PEOPLE TO REMEMBER THE BOY HE WAS

Away from the investigation, Noah’s family have spoken about the little boy behind the headlines.

They described him as happy, cheeky and playful — a child who loved laughing, cuddles and being close to the people he loved.

Noah was non-verbal and had mild hearing loss. He was also undergoing an assessment for autism, although he had not received a diagnosis.

His family said he had recently started finding his voice and learning new words.

They also spoke about his special relationship with his baby brother, whom Noah adored.

“HE WAS AT THE CENTRE OF OUR WORLD”

Noah’s family have asked people to remember him not simply as the little boy at the centre of a huge search, but as the much-loved child who brought happiness to his family.

His father, Rhys Woods, described him as the “sweetest and most innocent little boy”, saying the family would miss him enormously.

His mother has also urged other parents to cherish their children and never take precious moments for granted.

QUESTIONS THAT REMAIN

The inquest into Noah’s death has been opened and adjourned to a later date.

The medical cause of death was still recorded as pending further investigation at the opening hearing, meaning the inquest process has not yet reached its final conclusions.

For those who searched for Noah, the details of those final moments are difficult to hear.

A gap in a fence.

An open gate.

A relative trying to keep up.

And then, within minutes, a little boy was gone from sight.

What happened next remains part of the unanswered story surrounding Noah’s final hours.

But for his family, the most important part of his story is much simpler:

Noah was loved.

SOURCES

• Sky News — Inquest details and family tribute.
• ITV News Anglia — Timeline of Noah’s disappearance and search.
• PA / The Irish News — Inquest evidence and police account.
• East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust — Official statement regarding the separate medical-records investigation.