A child’s body has been recovered from a pond during the search for missing three-year-old Noah Woods in Suffolk.
Specialist police divers made the discovery at Decoy Pond in Brantham on Wednesday afternoon, following an extensive search involving emergency services and more than 1,000 volunteers.
Formal identification has not yet taken place, but Noah’s family has been informed and is receiving support from specially trained officers.
Police said the death is currently being treated as unexplained but is not believed to be suspicious.
Noah disappeared on Tuesday, 15 September, after becoming separated from a relative while visiting a playground in Merriam Close.
CCTV released by Suffolk Constabulary showed him at the playground at approximately 2.37pm. He was believed to have left through an alleyway leading towards a nearby housing estate.
Noah was described as non-verbal, with partial hearing loss, and was undergoing an assessment for autism. Police advised that he might not respond when called by name.
He was wearing a white T-shirt featuring the children’s character Bluey, shorts and black Vans trainers with a white stripe when he went missing.
A major search operation continued through the night and into Wednesday. Specialist police search teams, dog units, firefighters, coastguard personnel and helicopters from the National Police Air Service and HM Coastguard were deployed.
Officers conducted house-to-house enquiries and reviewed CCTV, doorbell-camera and dashcam footage. Residents were also asked to inspect gardens, sheds and outbuildings.
The disappearance prompted an extraordinary public response, with volunteers travelling from outside the area to help search the village and surrounding countryside. Brantham Leisure Centre was used as a coordination point, while local organisations and businesses provided refreshments and facilities.
Police had asked volunteers to register with the official coordination team and avoid potentially dangerous areas, including open water and railway lines, which required specialist search personnel.
Superintendent Tom Pearse thanked the emergency services, partner organisations and members of the public who supported the operation. He also asked that Noah’s family be given privacy following the tragic development.
The circumstances surrounding the death will now be investigated, with further updates expected following formal identification.
Source: Sky News and Suffolk Constabulary.