Noah found dead in pond after he ran from park through a gap in the fence

By the Editorial Team · Saturday, September 26, 2026

Three-year-old Noah Woods, who was non-verbal and being assessed for autism, drowned in Decoy Pond after slipping through a fence and running away from a relative during a visit to a play area in Brantham, Suffolk. His death is not suspected to be suspicious, and authorities are continuing to investigate while his family remembers him as a joyful child who had recently started using his voice.

A three-year-old boy was found drowned in a pond after running away from a relative in the village of Brantham, Suffolk, an inquest heard on Tuesday. Noah Woods, who was non-verbal, partially deaf, and undergoing assessment for autism, left a play area by slipping through a gap in a fence on September 15 and was later discovered in Decoy Pond.

According to Detective Chief Inspector Matthew Connick, Noah had been in the care of relatives on the day of the incident as part of his usual routine. The pair had visited an under-fives play area, with CCTV footage showing Noah playing with the relative from 2:13 p.m. until he was last seen at 2:37 p.m. Noah ignored calls to stop and ran down a nearby track adjacent to a housing estate, moving about 200 yards from the play area.

DCI Connick described how Noah veered off the path toward steps leading into the estate despite the relative’s attempts to stop him, eventually continuing in the direction of Decoy Pond. Noah disappeared from view after the track curved toward the water, prompting an immediate search by the relative and a member of the public. No trace was found at that time.

Emergency services, including Coastguard teams, firefighters, police dog units, helicopters, and divers from the Metropolitan Police, joined the search. Noah’s body was recovered from approximately six feet of water near submerged tree roots about five yards from the pond’s bank by PC Rhodri Herbert on September 16. His death is not being treated as suspicious, though the medical cause of death remains under investigation.

Noah’s parents, Rhys Woods and Charlie Peck, paid tribute to their son in a statement, describing him as a joyful and playful child who brought happiness to those around him despite the challenges he faced. They noted that Noah had recently begun using his voice and cherished weekly visits to the park with a close relative, which they said were filled with laughter and happiness.

The inquest into Noah’s death was opened and adjourned in Ipswich as authorities continue their inquiries.

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