Floral tributes left at playground after body found in search for Noah Woods

A community is mourning after a body was found in the search for three-year-old Noah Woods, who went missing near a playground.

The alarm was raised on Tuesday afternoon after little Noah managed to run away from a relative in Brantham village, Suffolk.

The massive search involving more than 1,300 people took a tragic turn when divers pulled a child’s body from a nearby Decoy Pond yesterday.

While formal identification is yet to take place, Superintendent Tom Pearse told hundreds of volunteers about the sad discovery, leaving many visibly upset as the more than 24-hour search ended.

Floral tributes have appeared near the playground on Merriam Close since the news broke.

A fundraiser set up to support Noah’s family has raised almost £16,000 within hours.

Set up by the father’s charity, the Good Dads Club, the JustGiving page was flooded with tributes and donations to ‘beautiful Noah.’

The fathers’ support group said: ‘In light of the news regarding three-year-old Noah Woods, Good Dads Club is calling on our community to give whatever they can to ease the overwhelming burden on his family during this heartbreaking time.

‘While no amount of money can undo these life altering events, every single financial contribution will go directly toward helping Noah’s family’s expenses, navigate daily bills, and take the necessary time off work to grieve without the added strain of financial worry.’

The youngster’s dad, Rhys Woods, thanked the search teams in a social media post yesterday morning while the efforts continued.

He said: ‘I cannot go another night knowing he’s out there alone, please don’t give up on him guys.

‘He is out there somewhere and I appreciate every single one of you.’

The dad said that while Noah is mildly autistic and had partial hearing loss, he is ‘fully capable of everyday tasks.’

One tribute on Noah’s fundraiser said: ‘My heart is broken for all the family, as a mother i cannot imagine your pain. Fly high beautiful boy.’

Another tribute said: ‘As a mother of autistic non-verbal children, I literally have no words. I cannot imagine the severe amount of pain you are all going through right now. Sending all of my strength and care to you all.’

The child’s body was discovered in the Brantham pond around 300m from where he is said to have broken free and ran down an alleyway.

Helicopters, volunteers, the police and Coastguard searched the area, while residents were urged to check doorbell footage, gardens, sheds and any spaces where a small child might go.

However, the major search ended after the discovery in the pond, which is surrounded by trees and flanked by a new built estate.

Superintendent Pearse, whose voice cracked with emotion as he spoke to the volunteers, paid tribute to Noah’s family and ‘all those who knew him.’

He said Noah’s family and multiple agencies searching the area were ‘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.’

In a statement, he confirmed that Noah’s family have been informed of the discovery, which is currently being treated as not suspicious but unexplained.

Brantham Parish Council said: ‘Our thoughts are with Noah’s family, friends and everyone who knows and loves him at this incredibly difficult time.

‘We want to say a heartfelt thank you to Brantham residents and the wider community. The response over the past couple of days has been extraordinary.

‘So many people have given their time, searched, brought supplies, opened buildings, supported volunteers and stood together as a community.

‘Your kindness, care and willingness to help has been truly remarkable.’

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