The family of three-year-old Noah Woods is continuing to mourn after an inquest into his d#ath revealed new details about how he became separated from a relative before being found in a pond in Brantham, Suffolk.

Noah went missing on September 15 after visiting a playground on Merriam Close with a relative. During the inquest, Suffolk Police said CCTV showed Noah playing in the area before he left through a gap in the fence leading toward a memorial garden.

A detective told the hearing that Noah was closely followed by his relative, who tried to keep up with him and called out after him. After around 200 metres, however, Noah was no longer visible, and police were contacted. A large-scale search was then launched.

Around 1,300 members of the public joined police and emergency services in the search. Specialist teams, including Metropolitan Police divers, eventually located Noah in Decoy Pond on September 16. He was found several metres from the bank among submerged tree roots.

The inquest heard that a post-mortem examination had been carried out, but Noah’s medical cause of d#ath remains pending further investigation. A final determination has therefore not yet been announced. Police have said the case is not being treated as suspicious.

Noah’s family described him as a happy, playful little boy who loved to laugh and brought joy to those around him. They said he was at the centre of a loving family and adored his younger brother.

His mother, Charlie Peck, and father, Rhys Woods, have shared tributes asking people to remember Noah for the happiness he brought to his family rather than only the circumstances surrounding his d#ath.

The initial inquest hearing lasted only a few minutes before being adjourned. A date for the full inquest has not yet been set, leaving further questions about the circumstances of Noah’s d#ath to be addressed when additional findings become available.

For now, his family continues to grieve the loss of a much-loved three-year-old, while the community that joined the search waits for the remaining questions to be answered.

Source: ITV News, Suffolk Constabulary, BBC, Sky News, The Guardian