Volunteers in tears as search for Noah Woods ends in heartbreak

The body has been found in the search for three-year-old Noah Woods who vanished after a visit to a village playground.

Several hundred volunteers as well as teams from the police, fire, coastguard and search and rescue had joined the desperate hunt for the toddler, who ran down an alleyway in Brantham, Suffolk on Tuesday afternoon and disappeared.

He told them: “You will have heard the news.

“First and foremost our thoughts are with Noah’s family and all those who knew him.”

He said that the agencies involved in the search, and Noah’s family, “have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of public support, people putting on their boots and helping us with the search and that, ladies and gentlemen, is yourselves”.

The officer’s voice cracked with emotion at times as he addressed the crowd of volunteers.

Superintendent Pearse, from Suffolk Constabulary, said in a statement on Wednesday evening: “Police and fire teams this afternoon sadly recovered the body of a child from Decoy Pond in Brantham.

“Formal identification has yet to take place, but the family of Noah Woods have been informed of this development. The discovery of the body is currently being treated as not suspicious, but unexplained.

“The coroner will be informed of this development.


“Since Noah was reported as missing, officers have carried out multiple inquiries, including the deployment of special search officers and dog units, and received support from various agencies, including helicopters from the National Police Air Service and HM Coastguard.

“Additional assistance on the ground has been provided by HM Coastguard, Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service. Suffolk Lowland, Search and Rescue, and over 1,300 members of the public supporting the search.

“First and foremost, our thoughts are with Noah’s family and all those who knew them. Since Noah was reported missing, vast number of our officers and staff have been deployed in numerous functions in the search for Noah, and the support for his family.

“We have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of public support and people putting on their boots to help us with the search.

“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 heartwarming nature of Suffolk people that make the county such a special place.

“I’m sure you appreciate that the family now need time, space, and privacy, and I thank you for your understanding of this.”