NOAH VANISHED IN BROAD DAYLIGHT. 1,300 PEOPLE SEARCHED. NOW POLICE HAVE CONFIRMED THE HEARTBREAKING END.

Three-year-old Noah Woods disappeared after a visit to a playground in Brantham, Suffolk.

For more than 24 hours, 1,300 people searched desperately for the missing toddler — police officers, volunteers, search teams and members of the public all hoping for the same outcome: Noah would be found alive.

Then specialist divers entered Decoy Pond.

They recovered the body of a child.

Police have now formally confirmed the identity.

It was Noah Woods.

Noah was last seen at around 2:37 p.m. on September 15, after becoming separated from a relative. CCTV showed him running down an alleyway before disappearing from sight.

The search quickly expanded into a major operation involving police, dogs, helicopters, firefighters, coastguard crews, specialist volunteers and Metropolitan Police divers.

For more than a day, people searched streets, fields and waterways.

Then the search ended at the pond.

Suffolk Constabulary says Noah’s death is not being treated as suspicious, although the circumstances remain unexplained and further enquiries are continuing for the coroner.

His father, Rhys Woods, described Noah as “the sweetest and most innocent little boy.”

Flowers and toys are now being left at the playground where Noah was last seen.

Thousands came together hoping to bring Noah home. The discovery at Decoy Pond changed everything.