Body of 3-year-old found in pond, father says: Noah was sweet, innocent and full of love

Rhys Woods confirmed today that the body found in Decoy Pond was that of his 3-year-old son, Noah Woods. The child was non-verbal, partially deaf and was undergoing tests for autism.

Noah was reported missing on Tuesday afternoon after wandering away from his grandfather at a playground for children under the age of five in Merriam Close, Brantham, Suffolk.

The young boy had followed a path leading toward a wooded area and a large pond. His disappearance prompted a massive search operation involving hundreds of volunteers, police officers, the coastguard and firefighters.

Suffolk Police announced yesterday afternoon that divers had recovered a child’s body from Decoy Pond. At the time, officers said the child had not yet been identified and described the death as unexplained but not suspicious.

Noah’s father, who is believed to have drowned in the pond after wandering away from his grandfather, remembered him as a sweet and innocent child who had nothing but love to give.

In a Facebook post, Rhys Woods expressed his gratitude to everyone who took part in the search for the 3-year-old.

He wrote that, as everyone had now seen, the body recovered from Decoy Pond was that of their little Noah. He said the pain of this loss could not be put into words and that the entire family was deeply heartbroken. Rhys added that Noah was an incredibly sweet and innocent little boy, full of love to give, who would be missed beyond measure.