Police have confirmed that a body has been recovered during the search for three-year-old Noah Woods, who went missing from a playground in Brantham, Suffolk. The child disappeared at approximately 15:00 BST on Tuesday, and dive teams located the body in a nearby pond on Wednesday. Superintendent Tom Pearse of Suffolk Police stated that formal identification has not yet taken place, but Noah's family has been notified of the discovery.
Noah was last seen at the playground in Merriam Close, Brantham, where he had been with a relative. According to police records, the last confirmed sighting on CCTV footage occurred at 14:37 BST on Tuesday. The three-year-old was non-verbal and partially deaf, making the search effort particularly urgent for the community.
Dive teams from the Metropolitan Police were deployed to search Decoy Pond, a fishing lake situated approximately 350 yards (320 metres) from the playground where Noah was last seen. According to reports from the recovery operation, five dive teams were involved in locating the body in the pond.
Superintendent Pearse said the death was being treated as unexplained but not suspicious.
Our thoughts are with Noah's family and all those who knew him. We have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of public support and people putting on their boots to help.He added that the coroner will be informed following the body's recovery.
How extensive was the search effort?
The search for Noah mobilised an extraordinary community response, with at least 1,300 members of the public volunteering to help locate the missing child. Volunteers travelled from across the country, with people arriving from as far away as Birmingham and Hampshire to assist in the operation. The search area expanded on Wednesday to include East Bergholt and Manningtree, which lie across the border in Essex.
Suffolk Police deployed significant resources alongside the public volunteers. The force was supported by Suffolk HART (Hazardous Area Response Team), SULSAR (Suffolk Lowland Search and Rescue), the Environment Agency, HM Coastguard, the Fire and Rescue Service, and the ambulance service. Police also established an online portal to allow members of the public to submit information related to the search.
What did police say about the circumstances?
At an earlier stage of the search, police indicated that there was
nothing to indicate anything sinister or any element of criminalityin Noah's disappearance. This assessment reflected the initial investigation into how the child came to go missing from the playground.
Superintendent Pearse expressed his understanding of why the community had mobilised so comprehensively.
As a parent myself, I completely understand why people would want to help and such a response is one that typifies the strong sense of community and the heart-warming nature of Suffolk people that make the county such a special place.He appealed for privacy for Noah's family during what he acknowledged would be an extremely difficult time.
Superintendent Pearse continued:
Since Noah was reported as missing, a vast number of our officers and staff have been deployed in numerous functions in the search for Noah and support for his family. We've been supported by Suffolk HART (Hazardous Area Response Team), SULSAR (Suffolk Lowland Search and Rescue), Environment Agency, HM Coastguard, Fire and Rescue Service and the ambulance service. I am sure you appreciate the family now need time, space and privacy and I thank you for your understanding in this.
What happens next?
Formal identification of the body is still pending. Once this process is completed, the coroner will be informed and will take charge of the next steps in establishing the circumstances of Noah's death. The family has requested privacy as they come to terms with the loss.
Key Facts
- Noah Woods, aged three, disappeared from a playground in Brantham, Suffolk at approximately 15:00 BST on Tuesday
- A body was recovered from Decoy Pond, located about 350 yards from the playground, by dive teams on Wednesday
- At least 1,300 members of the public assisted in the search, with volunteers travelling from across England
- Noah was non-verbal and partially deaf, making the search effort a priority for emergency services and the community
- Police are treating the death as unexplained but not suspicious, and the coroner will be informed following formal identification
