THE LITTLE VOICE NOAH’S FAMILY WILL NEVER FORGET — FAMILY REMEMBERS THREE-YEAR-OLD AS A HAPPY, LOVING BOY

Three-year-old Noah Woods was only just beginning to find and use his little voice.

Now, his family says the unique sound of that voice is one of the things they miss most.

Noah was described by his family as a happy, cheeky and playful little boy who loved to laugh, loved to giggle and brought joy wherever he went.

His family released the emotional tribute after an inquest into his death was opened in Suffolk, following the heartbreaking discovery of his body in Decoy Pond in Brantham.

“HE HAD ONLY JUST STARTED FINDING HIS LITTLE VOICE”

Noah was speech delayed and had mild hearing loss. He was also being assessed for autism, although he had not received a diagnosis.

Despite those challenges, his family said he was learning every day and had been saying new words.

“He had only just started finding and using his little voice,” the family said in a statement released through Suffolk Constabulary.

They described the sound of his voice as unique and wonderful — something they will carry with them forever.

For his loved ones, those small moments of progress had become precious memories.

A SPECIAL BOND WITH HIS BABY BROTHER

Noah was also remembered for the close relationship he shared with his baby brother.

His family said he adored his younger sibling, loved spending time with him and enjoyed entertaining him and making him laugh.

He would follow his little brother around and always wanted to stay close.

The family described their bond as “incredibly special.”

They also remembered Noah as an affectionate child who loved hugs, kisses and holding hands.

He enjoyed being close to the people he loved and, his family said, loved feeling safe and cared for.

THE WEEKLY TRIPS TO THE PARK

Every Tuesday, Noah would go to the park with a treasured relative.

The family said they shared a particularly close relationship, spending their time playing chase, running around and exploring the playground.

Those ordinary afternoons became memories the family says they will treasure forever.

On September 15, Noah was visiting the playground in Merriam Close, Brantham, as part of what police described as his normal routine.

CCTV showed him playing with his relative, with the last recorded footage at about 2:37 p.m.

An inquest later heard that Noah left the play area through a gap in a fence before going through an open gate leading toward a nearby memorial garden.

A relative tried to follow him, but Noah disappeared from sight after about 200 metres.

A major search operation was launched.

A SEARCH THAT BROUGHT A COMMUNITY TOGETHER

Police, specialist search teams, emergency services and volunteers joined the effort to find Noah.

Around 1,300 members of the public also took part in the search across Brantham and the surrounding area.

The search continued through the night and into the following day.

On September 16, Metropolitan Police divers found Noah in Decoy Pond, approximately five metres from the bank and among submerged tree roots.

His death was confirmed later that afternoon.

Suffolk Police said his death was not being treated as suspicious, while enquiries and the coroner’s investigation continue.

The medical cause of death remained pending further investigation at the time of the inquest.

“THAT IS HOW HE DESERVES TO BE REMEMBERED”

For Noah’s family, however, they do not want their son remembered only through the circumstances surrounding his death.

They want people to remember the little boy he was.

A child who laughed.

A child who giggled.

A child who loved to play chase.

A child who adored his baby brother.

And a little boy who was only beginning to discover his own voice.

The family said they want Noah’s final memory to be one of joy — remembering him running, playing and laughing.

“That is who Noah was, and that is how he deserves to be remembered,” they said.

Noah’s mother, Charlie, also made a simple request to those who followed his story.

She asked people to hold their children a little tighter, cherish every moment and never take precious memories for granted.

His father, Rhys Woods, previously described Noah as the “sweetest and most innocent little boy” and said the family would miss him deeply.

Across Brantham and beyond, tributes have continued to remember the three-year-old whose disappearance brought thousands of people together.

For those who loved him, Noah’s story is ultimately not just about the search that ended in heartbreak.

It is about a little boy who brought laughter into his family’s home, who adored his baby brother, and whose tiny, newly discovered voice will remain with them forever.