Suffolk Constabulary has confirmed that the body of a child recovered from Decoy Pond in Brantham has been formally identified as three-year-old Noah Woods. The confirmation came on Thursday afternoon following searches for the missing boy.
Noah was reported missing on the afternoon of Tuesday, September 15, after becoming separated from a relative while visiting the playground in Merriam Close. He was seen running down an alleyway beside the playground towards the new-build housing estate and Decoy Pond.
Large-scale search operation
A large-scale missing person investigation was launched, involving specialist police search teams, HM Coastguard, Suffolk Fire & Rescue Service, the National Police Air Service, and the Metropolitan Police Dive Team. Volunteers from SULSAR (Suffolk Lowland Search and Rescue) also assisted, alongside the East of England Ambulance Service – including Suffolk HART – and the Environment Agency.
Around 1,300 members of the public joined the search effort. Yesterday afternoon, Wednesday, September 16, officers from the Metropolitan Police Dive Team recovered the body of a child from Decoy Pond.
Police statement
Subject to confirmation at formal inquest proceedings, the child has been formally identified as Noah Woods, from Brantham. His death is not being treated as suspicious, but police have a number of enquiries to complete before submitting a file for the Coroner.
Superintendent Tom Pearse said: “I want to once again extend our thoughts and deepest sympathy to Noah’s family and thank them for their patience and understanding throughout the searches.
“It was clear from the media coverage we saw that they not only had all of Suffolk behind them, but an outpouring of goodwill from across the entire country and beyond.
“I know how grateful Noah’s family are for all the support and kind messages they have received, but would reiterate our plea to now allow them the time, space and privacy they need at this deeply distressing time.
“I would like to express my thanks again to everyone that provided help and support over an intense 24-hour period of the search. This includes all of our officers and staff, along with the numerous emergency services colleagues and volunteers from SULSAR.
“Finally, I cannot pay tribute enough to the response from the local community and people who travelled from further afield to assist with the search for Noah.
“Help was provided in a number of ways – the vast majority were out searching the village and surrounding area, but there were also people coordinating the volunteers, along with those who ensured the facilities were available and open, while others provided food and drink or directed traffic.
“This was a case where the people of Suffolk rallied together and showed the county at its best in what transpired to be the most tragic of circumstances.”
