The missing boy became separated from a relative after visiting a playground
Police have provided an update on the search for a missing non-verbal autistic three-year-old boy in Suffolk.
The child, called Noah, was last seen at 3pm on Tuesday (September 15), Suffolk Police said, when he became separated from a relative after visiting the playground in Merriam Close, Brantham, near Manningtree.
Officers said that Noah is believed to have run off down the alleyway beside the playground towards the new build housing estate. The force confirmed the three-year-old is autistic, non-verbal and has partial hearing loss.
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Noah, who is white with curly ginger hair, was wearing a white t-shirt with the TV character Bluey on, shorts and black Vans trainers with a white stripe at the time he went missing.
Specially trained officers and dog units have been searching the village, located near the estuary of the River Stour since yesterday afternoon.
Providing police support with their search are helicopters from the National Police Air Service and HM Coastguard. Further support is being provided by the Coastguard, Suffolk Fire & Rescue Service, Suffolk Lowland Search & Rescue and a vast number of members of the public.
Local residents were asked earlier by police to thoroughly check their gardens, sheds and outbuildings or any potential areas where a child might hide.
Those with private CCTV or doorbell cameras in the village, or who were driving through the area with a dashcam, are asked to review the footage from 3pm yesterday afternoon onwards for any possible sightings of Noah.
Superintendent Pete Partridge said in a statement: “We are very concerned for Noah’s welfare and need to find him as a matter of urgency.
“A vast number of resources have been deployed by ourselves, our emergency services colleagues and volunteers from SULSAR. These resources have been bolstered by members of the public who have turned out in large numbers to assist and we are incredibly grateful for their help and support.
“Given that fast-moving nature of the investigation, it is important that any public searches are coordinated with police to ensure we are working together, and that our resources are directed where they can be most effective.”
The Superintendent noted that residents shouldn’t ‘put themselves at risk or undertake independent searches overnight’, adding: “We will continue to keep Noah’s family and the public updated on the progress of our searches and investigation.”
Just after 5am on Wednesday (September 16), a Facebook post from Brantham Parish Council said there had been no confirmed sightings of Noah.
The post read: “The search for Noah continues this morning. If you are able to help with the search today, please keep safe and take care of yourselves.
“Search in pairs where possible, wear high-vis clothing and take extra care around roads, water, woodland and other potentially dangerous areas. Please take a fully charged mobile phone with you.
“Please also check your own property thoroughly, including gardens, sheds, garages, outbuildings, vehicles and under or behind furniture. If the police ask you to move away from an area, please follow their instructions. This may be to allow specialist search activity to take place.”
Anyone who thinks they have seen Noah is asked to contact Suffolk Police, quoting CAD 203 of 15 September.
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