Police have confirmed that a body has been recovered during the search for missing three-year-old Noah Woods. The find followed a large-scale volunteer operation that saw hundreds of people scouring the area for the boy, who was separated from a relative while playing in Brantham, Suffolk.
A child’s body was pulled from a nearby pond by dive teams, according to Supt Tom Pearse of Suffolk Police. The officer said the death is being handled as unexplained but not suspicious.
Formal identification has yet to take place, but Noah’s family has been informed. “Our thoughts are with Noah’s family and all those who knew him,” Pearse said. “We have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of public support and people putting on their boots to help.”
Volunteers From Across England
At least 1,300 members of the public helped in the search for Noah, who was non-verbal and partially deaf. Volunteers came from as far away as Birmingham and Hampshire to join the effort.
People on foot, dogs and aircraft flew over the region near where the River Stour meets the sea, close to the Essex border. The work of those who came forward was arranged from Brantham Leisure Centre and the village hall, both of which ran short of hi-vis vests because so many people took part.
Tuesday’s Search Effort
Tuesday saw volunteers combing the fields and woods close to the playground where Noah vanished. Witnesses reported that shouts directed at Noah would go unanswered. One man who worked opposite the playground and saw Noah just before he vanished said: “He looked happy and healthy as anything.”
Among the many people who joined the search for the toddler was Jessica Gammons, a mother-of-two from Kelvedon in Essex. She said she felt compelled to volunteer, even though she was heavily pregnant, because her own son, like Noah, is three years old.
“I kept thinking to myself ‘If this was my son, I’d want everyone possible to help,'” she said. “It’s such a sad situation. I can’t stop thinking about him.”
The Scene Where Noah Vanished
On Tuesday, Noah vanished from a playground in Brantham around 15:00 BST. He was last spotted close to the estuary where the River Stour meets the Essex border.
Wednesday saw searches widen beyond the spot where the body was discovered, reaching into East Bergholt and Manningtree, which sit across the Essex border. The pond lies roughly 350 yards, or about 320 metres, from the playground.
The Metropolitan Police sent divers to look into Decoy Pond, a fishing lake near the scene, after Noah vanished. The pond sits roughly 350 yards (320 metres) from the playground where he was last spotted.
The Agencies That Joined In
Since Noah was reported missing, a large number of officers and staff have been deployed, Pearse said. The search drew support from:
- Suffolk HART (Hazardous Area Response Team)
- SULSAR (Suffolk Lowland Search and Rescue)
- Environment Agency
- HM Coastguard
- Fire and Rescue Service
- Ambulance service
“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,” Pearse said. “I am sure you appreciate the family now need time, space and privacy and I thank you for your understanding in this.”
Key Facts Box
- Body found in search for missing Noah Woods, 3
- Disappeared at about 15:00 BST on Tuesday
- Recovered from a pond near the playground in Brantham, Suffolk
- Dive teams recovered the body of a child
- Death treated as unexplained but not suspicious
- At least 1,300 members of the public helped in the search
- Searches widened to East Bergholt and Manningtree
- Divers from the Metropolitan Police searched Decoy Pond
- Formal identification has yet to take place
- Family informed
What Happens Next
Until formal identification occurs, the official confirmation of who the person is has not been given. In the meantime, the family’s grief is private, and the community’s answer to questions about the matter has been made public.
Pearse described the heart-warming nature of Suffolk people, and it was their reaction to Noah’s disappearance: many who knew him personally and others who merely wished to help responded with concern and support.
Time, space and privacy are what the family needs most right now. Support from the community has been offered. Waiting is all that remains.
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