Noah Woods, the three-year-old who was found dead in a pond after going missing from a playground, had left the play area through a gap in the fence, an inquest has heard.
According to Suffolk Police, Noah became separated from a relative during a visit to the playground in Merriam Close, Brantham, on the afternoon of September 15. His body was recovered from Decoy Pond by Metropolitan Police divers on the afternoon of September 16. Officers later confirmed that his death was not being treated as suspicious.
Search and Inquest Details
Around 1,300 members of the public reportedly joined the frantic search to find Noah. Following the opening and adjournment of the inquest into his death in Ipswich last Friday, his family paid tribute to him, saying they hope he will be remembered for the cheerful and loving little boy he was.
In a statement, they said: “Noah was a happy, cheeky, playful three-year-old boy who loved to laugh, loved to giggle and who brought joy wherever he went. He was part of a loving and caring family, living with his mummy, daddy and his little baby brother. He was at the centre of our world.”
Family Tribute and Autism Assessment
The family added: “Noah was being assessed for autism, although he had not received a diagnosis. He also had mild hearing loss and was speech delayed. Despite the challenges he faced, he was learning every day. He was saying new words all the time and had only just started finding and using his little voice. One of the things we miss most is the special sound of his voice. It was unique, wonderful, and something we will carry with us forever.”
Detective Chief Inspector Matthew Connick told the inquest that Noah, from East Bergholt, Suffolk, had been in the care of relatives on September 15 as part of his usual routine. The hearing was told that they walked to a playground for young children, with CCTV footage showing Noah playing alongside a relative.
Sequence of Events
The first recording was captured at 2.13pm, while the last sighting of him in the play area was at 2.37pm. Connick noted that the camera system was activated by motion and therefore did not provide continuous footage.
The officer said the relative had given a statement to police and explained that Noah left the playground through a gap in the fence, entering a memorial garden before exiting through an open gate. He then headed towards Decoy Pond, with the relative following closely behind in an attempt to keep up. Despite calling out to him, the relative lost sight of Noah after around 200 metres. Police were subsequently alerted, triggering a major search operation involving emergency services and hundreds of volunteers.
