NEW CCTV SHOWS NOAH WOODS’ LAST KNOWN MOVEMENTS BEFORE SEARCH ENDS IN HEARTBREAK

Newly released CCTV footage has shown the final known movements of three-year-old Noah Woods shortly before he disappeared from a playground in Brantham, Suffolk — footage that became a crucial part of a huge search operation involving police, emergency services and around 1,300 members of the public.

Noah was last confirmed on CCTV at approximately 2:37 p.m. on Tuesday, September 15, after visiting the playground on Merriam Close with a relative. Police said he became separated from the relative and was seen running from the playground area.

According to Suffolk Police, Noah was reported to have run down an alleyway beside the playground towards a nearby new-build housing estate and in the direction of Decoy Pond.

The footage released by police showed Noah playing at the park shortly before he disappeared and was issued as officers appealed to the public for help in retracing his movements.

A MASSIVE SEARCH OPERATION

The disappearance triggered an extensive search across Brantham.

Specialist police search teams, dog units, helicopters and emergency services were deployed, while HM Coastguard, Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service, Suffolk Lowland Search and Rescue and other agencies joined the operation.

Members of the public also travelled from outside the area to help search fields, roads, gardens and other locations around the village.

Police repeatedly asked residents to check sheds, gardens, outbuildings and CCTV or doorbell footage that could show Noah’s movements.

At the time, officers described Noah as non-verbal and partially deaf, and said he was undergoing an assessment for autism. Police explained that because of these vulnerabilities, he would not necessarily respond if his name was called.

As the search moved towards areas surrounding the village, Decoy Pond became a major focus of the operation.

Police warned members of the public not to enter open water and asked volunteers to allow specialist teams to conduct searches in areas requiring professional equipment.

SPECIALIST DIVERS SEARCHED DECOY POND

On Wednesday, September 16, specialist divers from the Metropolitan Police were brought in to search Decoy Pond.

Shortly before 6 p.m., Suffolk Police announced that the dive team had recovered the body of a child from the water.

At that stage, formal identification had not yet been completed, although Noah’s family had been informed.

Police said the discovery was being treated as not suspicious but unexplained while further inquiries were carried out.

The following day, Suffolk Police formally confirmed that the child recovered from Decoy Pond was Noah Woods.

Police said his death was not being treated as suspicious, but a number of inquiries remained to be completed before a file could be submitted to the coroner.

A COMMUNITY LEFT HEARTBROKEN

The search had brought together an extraordinary number of people.

Suffolk Police said approximately 1,300 members of the public assisted during the operation, alongside emergency services and specialist search teams.

After the confirmation of Noah’s death, his father, Rhys Woods, paid tribute to his son, describing him as the “sweetest and most innocent little boy.”

He thanked the emergency services and members of the public who had searched for Noah and said the family had been overwhelmed by the support shown to them.

Tributes, flowers, toys and Bluey-themed items were later left at the playground where Noah had last been seen.

The tragedy has also prompted an outpouring of financial support for Noah’s family. By September 19, a fundraising appeal had raised more than £95,000, according to ITV News.

For the family, however, the CCTV footage and the enormous search effort now remain part of the final record of the desperate attempt to bring Noah home.

The circumstances surrounding his death will be considered through the formal coroner’s process, while police continue to complete their remaining inquiries.