The search for three-year-old Noah Woods in Brantham, Suffolk, has come to a tragic conclusion.

Suffolk Constabulary confirmed that a child recovered from Decoy Pond on September 16 was formally identified as Noah the following day. His family has been informed. Police have stated that the circumstances are not currently being treated as suspicious, although enquiries remain ongoing and a report will be prepared for the coroner.

Noah was reported missing on the afternoon of September 15 after becoming separated from a relative near the Merriam Close playground. CCTV recorded his last confirmed sighting at around 2:37 p.m., showing him in the area before he moved toward a nearby housing estate and the vicinity of Decoy Pond.

Police said Noah was non-verbal, partially deaf and undergoing an autism assessment. These circumstances presented additional challenges for search teams attempting to locate him quickly.

A large-scale search operation was launched across Brantham and the surrounding area. Specialist police officers, search dogs, helicopters, HM Coastguard, fire and rescue crews, volunteers and other emergency personnel took part.

Police also said that around 1,300 members of the public joined the search, highlighting the scale of the community response.

On September 16, Metropolitan Police dive-team officers recovered a child from Decoy Pond. Identification was pending at the time, before Suffolk Constabulary confirmed the following day that the child was Noah.

Authorities have emphasized that there is currently no indication that criminality was involved. Investigators will continue examining the circumstances surrounding Noah’s death, while the coroner will determine the formal cause and circumstances.

The case has deeply affected the local community, many of whom joined the search hoping to bring Noah home safely.

Suffolk Constabulary has asked the public to respect Noah’s family and their privacy as they grieve the loss of their young son.

Source: The Guardian