The three-year-old’s heartbroken father has paid tribute to his son as “the sweetest and most innocent little boy,” after more than 1,300 volunteers joined a 24-hour search that ended when his body was recovered from Decoy Pond in Brantham.
Suffolk Constabulary has confirmed that the body discovered on Wednesday is that of Noah Woods, the three-year-old from East Bergholt who had been missing since Tuesday afternoon. Noah disappeared at around 3pm after becoming separated from a relative, believed to be his grandfather, while at a playground in Merriam Close, Brantham. His body was recovered from nearby Decoy Pond by officers from the Metropolitan Police Dive Team following a mass search involving emergency services and more than 1,300 members of the public. His father, Rhys Woods, has since paid an emotional tribute, saying Noah “will be loved forever.”
Formal identification and police enquiries
Suffolk Police said the child recovered from the pond had been formally identified as Noah, subject to confirmation at formal inquest proceedings. His death is not currently being treated as suspicious, though officers have said a number of enquiries remain outstanding before a file can be submitted to the Coroner.
CCTV traced Noah’s final movements
According to police, CCTV footage captured Noah in the playground before he was seen running down an alleyway in the direction of Decoy Fishing Pond. Specialist dive teams were subsequently called in to search the water, and the body was recovered from the pond on Wednesday afternoon.
Speaking from Brantham Leisure Centre, Superintendent Tom Pearse of Suffolk Police said: “First and foremost, our thoughts are with Noah’s family and all those who knew him. We have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of public support, people putting on their boots and helping us search.”
Community mounts overnight search
More than 1,300 people took part in the search for Noah over the 24 hours following his disappearance, with volunteers travelling from as far afield as Birmingham and Hampshire to assist. Emergency services, including helicopters and police dog units, worked alongside members of the public to search the area around the River Stour, near the Suffolk-Essex border.
Father’s tribute: ‘You will never be forgotten’
In a statement posted on Facebook, Noah’s father, Rhys Woods, described his son as “the sweetest and most innocent little boy, with nothing but love to give,” adding: “We are going to miss him so very much.” He said the family had clung to hope throughout the search. “This was the most heartbreaking outcome for us,” he wrote. “We kept hoping that he would be hiding somewhere obvious and that someone would find him. That’s what we told ourselves throughout the search.”
Mr Woods reflected on the scale of the public response, saying Noah had “made an impact across the whole nation.” He wrote: “You have all taken Noah into your own hearts,” thanking everyone who had taken part in the search for his son. He also expressed gratitude to emergency services, local businesses and venues in the village, saying: “The compassion shown by all of you will never be forgotten by us, and brought us comfort and strength at the darkest time of our lives.” The message was signed with love from Noah’s father, mother and younger brother.
Closing his tribute, Mr Woods addressed his son directly: “Noah, you will be loved forever, you will never be forgotten and we miss you so, so much. It has been a privilege to be your parents and to have been able to pack so much love into the short three years you were with us.”
