Three-year-old Noah Woods left a play area through a gap in the fence before he was found dead in a pond following a large search in Suffolk, an inquest has heard. The toddler went missing on September 15, and his body was discovered the following day by police divers in nearby water in the village of Brantham.

Assistant coroner Jyoti Gill described the death as "very sad and tragic" as she opened and adjourned the inquest in Ipswich. The incident has prompted a significant search operation and has led to a heartfelt tribute from Noah's family.

Suffolk Coroner's Court was informed by police that Noah had exited the playground, entered a memorial garden, and then left that area through an open gate. He subsequently ran down a path on a new housing estate towards Decoy Pond. Detective Chief Inspector Matt Connick of Suffolk Police stated that CCTV footage showed Noah in the play area being supervised by a relative as part of a "normal routine."

Following Noah's departure from the play area, the relative closely followed him, attempting to catch up. DCI Connick added that the relative shouted out to Noah, who resided in neighbouring East Bergholt, but the child went out of sight shortly thereafter. Another individual reportedly joined the search before police were alerted.

A written tribute from Noah's family described him as a happy, cheeky, and playful boy who loved to laugh, and who was at the centre of their world. He lived with his parents and a baby brother. The family shared that every Tuesday since his birth, Noah had visited the park with a treasured relative, sharing a relationship filled with laughter, play, and exploration.

The inquest heard that Noah was being assessed for autism, though he had not yet received a diagnosis. He also had mild hearing loss and was speech delayed. Despite these challenges, he was actively learning and had recently begun using new words and his "little voice."

Noah's mother, Charlie, urged other parents in her statement to "hold their children a little tighter, cherish every moment, and never take those precious memories for granted."

Over 1,300 people assisted in the search for Noah in the 24 hours following his disappearance. Helicopters, dog units, and members of the public scoured the area near the River Stour on the Suffolk-Essex border. Police divers entered Decoy Pond on September 16, in the vicinity where Noah was last seen. His body was recovered five metres from the edge, submerged in tree roots, at a depth of 1.8 metres. Paramedics confirmed Noah's death at 16:31 BST.