The father of a three-year-old boy who was found dead after going missing in Suffolk has paid tribute to his son as the “sweetest and most innocent little boy, with nothing but love to give.” Noah Woods disappeared on the afternoon of Tuesday, September 18, after running away from a playground in Merriam Close, Brantham. He was visiting the area with a relative at the time.
Noah, who was non-verbal, partially deaf, and was undergoing tests for autism, vanished around 2:37 p.m., prompting a large-scale search effort. More than 1,300 members of the public, alongside police officers, coastguards, fire and rescue services, lowland search and rescue volunteers, and other agencies, participated in the operation. Helicopters also took part, combing the fields and woodlands near the River Stour close to the Essex border.
On Wednesday afternoon, divers recovered the body of a child from a fishing lake known locally as Decoy Pond, located approximately 250 yards from the playground where Noah was last seen. Suffolk Police confirmed the body was believed to be Noah’s, although a formal identification had yet to be completed. The death is being investigated as unexplained but not suspicious, and the coroner will be informed.
In an emotional message shared on a community Facebook group, Noah’s father, Rhys Woods, described the loss as indescribably painful. He expressed profound gratitude for the widespread support and compassion shown during the search. “It seems he has made an impact across the whole nation,” Woods said, adding that the kindness helped the family find comfort and strength during their darkest moments. He reflected on the heartbreaking outcome, saying they had hoped Noah would be found hiding somewhere safe and easily visible.
The village of Brantham mourned the loss, with many residents and visitors leaving flowers, toys, candles, and personal messages at the playground where Noah was last seen. Many of the tributes featured toys relating to Bluey, the cartoon character that Noah was known to love and was reportedly wearing on the day he disappeared. The local leisure centre served as a community hub throughout the search, with volunteers, councillors, and emergency services coordinating efforts and providing support to those affected.
Police and community members praised the extraordinary response from the public, with volunteers searching through the night and helping manage logistics such as traffic control. The scale of the search proved overwhelming at times, leading to shortages of supplies like high-visibility vests and flowers in local shops.
Autism charities and water safety advocates have noted that children with autism spectrum conditions can be particularly vulnerable to water hazards, sometimes attracted to water features without awareness of the danger. Authorities are mindful of these risks as they continue their investigation.
A Just Giving campaign set up to support Noah’s family had raised more than £31,000 by Wednesday evening, reflecting the widespread sympathy following the tragedy. Suffolk Police Superintendent Tom Pearse extended condolences to Noah’s family and thanked the community for their cooperation and compassion throughout the search.