NOAH WOODS INQUEST REVEALS HOW THREE-YEAR-OLD LEFT PLAYGROUND BEFORE HE WAS FOUND DEAD

The inquest into the death of three-year-old Noah Woods has revealed new details about how the little boy left a playground in Brantham, Suffolk, before he was later found dead in a nearby pond.

Noah disappeared on the afternoon of September 15, 2026, after visiting an under-fives play area on Merriam Close with a relative. His disappearance triggered a huge search involving emergency services, specialist police teams and around 1,300 members of the public.

HOW NOAH LEFT THE PLAY AREA

At an inquest hearing at Suffolk Coroner’s Court in Ipswich on September 25, Detective Chief Inspector Matthew Connick explained what investigators had established from CCTV and witness accounts.

Noah had been in the playground with a relative as part of what police described as his normal routine.

CCTV showed him playing at around 2:13 p.m., with the last recorded footage showing him in the play area at approximately 2:37 p.m.

However, the officer stressed that the CCTV system was motion-activated and did not provide continuous coverage.

According to DCI Connick, Noah then left the play area “through a gap in the fence”, entering a memorial garden before continuing through an open gate.

He then headed towards Decoy Pond.

The relative followed closely behind and tried to keep up with him. The relative also shouted after Noah, but after approximately 200 metres, the child could no longer be seen.

Police were then called and a major search operation began.

A MASSIVE SEARCH FOR NOAH

The search quickly grew into a large-scale operation.

Specialist police search teams were joined by emergency services, including Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service, HM Coastguard, the National Police Air Service, the East of England Ambulance Service, Suffolk Lowland Search and Rescue and Metropolitan Police divers.

Around 1,300 members of the public also joined the effort, searching the village and surrounding areas for any sign of the missing toddler.

The search continued into the following day.

On September 16, Metropolitan Police divers recovered the body of a child from Decoy Pond.

The body was found approximately five metres from the bank, among submerged tree roots, at a point where the water was estimated to be around 1.8 metres deep, the inquest heard.

Suffolk Police later formally identified the child as Noah Woods.

His death is not being treated as suspicious, although police have continued their inquiries for the coroner.

FAMILY REMEMBERS A “HAPPY, CHEEKY, PLAYFUL” BOY

Following the inquest hearing, Noah’s family released a heartbreaking tribute.

They described him as a “happy, cheeky, playful three-year-old boy” who loved to laugh and giggle and brought joy to everyone around him.

The family said Noah lived with his mother, father and baby brother and was at the centre of their world.

They also explained that Noah had been undergoing an assessment for autism, although he had not received a diagnosis. He had mild hearing loss and was speech delayed, but was learning new words and had recently begun finding and using his voice more.

His family said one of the things they would miss most was the unique sound of his voice.

They also described the special bond Noah shared with his baby brother, saying he loved spending time with him, entertaining him and making him laugh.

His father, Rhys Woods, previously described Noah as the “sweetest and most innocent little boy”, saying the family was devastated by his loss.

CAUSE OF DEATH STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION

An inquest into Noah’s death was opened and then adjourned.

The post-mortem examination was carried out at Addenbrooke’s Hospital mortuary in Cambridge, but the medical cause of death was recorded as pending further investigation, according to evidence presented at the hearing.

This means that although Noah’s body was recovered from Decoy Pond, the full medical findings have not yet been established publicly.

Police have also emphasized that they are not treating the death as suspicious.

The circumstances surrounding Noah’s disappearance nevertheless remain the subject of the coroner’s investigation.

A COMMUNITY LEFT HEARTBROKEN

The tragedy has deeply affected Brantham and the wider community.

Thousands of people became involved in the search or offered support to Noah’s family. A fundraising campaign set up after his death also received an enormous response, with more than £100,000 raised within days to help the family during their grief.

Flowers, balloons and other tributes were left near the playground where Noah had been playing.

For his family, however, the focus remains on remembering the little boy behind the heartbreaking headlines.

They asked that Noah be remembered not simply for the tragedy surrounding his death, but as the joyful child who loved to laugh, loved his family and brought happiness wherever he went.

The inquest will continue at a later date as authorities work to establish the full circumstances surrounding Noah Woods’ death.