Body of missing toddler Noah Woods found in Suffolk pond

Police divers recovered a child's body from Decoy Pond in Brantham, Suffolk, on Wednesday evening, ending a massive search for three-year-old Noah Woods. The toddler, who was non-verbal, partially deaf and undergoing autism assessment, disappeared from a playground on Merriam Close on Tuesday at 2:37 p.m. after becoming separated from a relative.

CCTV footage showed Noah playing on a roundabout moments before he ran down an alleyway toward a nearby housing estate. More than 1,300 volunteers joined police, dog units, helicopters and specialist rescue teams in the search across the village and surrounding countryside.

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

Superintendent Tom Pearse announced the discovery to assembled volunteers at Brantham Leisure Centre shortly before 6 p.m., saying formal identification had not yet taken place. The death is being treated as unexplained but not suspicious. Pearse praised the "overwhelming" public support and asked for privacy for Noah's family.

Noah's father, Rhys Woods, had appealed for searchers to expand their efforts beyond the village, writing on social media that he could not bear another night with his son missing. Emergency services had earlier expressed confidence that high-risk areas such as the railway line and Decoy Pond were clear.

Floral tributes have been left at the playground on Merriam Close, and a fundraiser set up by the Good Dads Club charity has raised nearly £16,000 for the family. The community has been left in shock, with many volunteers weeping openly as they left the search area.