Body of a child found in the search for three-year-old Noah Woods
Police have confirmed that they have found a body during the search for three-year-old Noah Woods.
The partially deaf toddler went missing from a playground in Brantham, Suffolk at around 3pm yesterday (Tuesday 15 September).
Earlier today, it was confirmed that the search had been extended to a specialist diving team.
A spokesperson from Met Police said: "A specialist diving team at the Met Police has been deployed to support Suffolk Police with the ongoing searches for missing boy Noah Woods."
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Supt Tom Pearse has just confirmed that dive teams have recovered the body of a child from Decoy Pond.
During a press conference, the superintendent suggested that it is believed that the body belongs to Noah.
Supt Tom Pearse said: “Formal identification has yet to take place, but the family of Noah Woods have been informed of this development”.
“The discovery of the body is currently being treated as not suspicious but unexplained.”
The toddler first became separated from a relative in the playground, and it is thought that he ran down an alleyway and was out of sight.
His father Rhys issued a heartbreaking plea to the public as hundreds joined the search for the youngster, but tragically that search has now come to an end with the worst possible ending.
Noah's death is not being treated as suspicious at this time.
Noah's father Rhys had previously said: “I cannot go another night knowing he’s out there alone, please don’t give up on him guys. He is out there somewhere and I appreciate every single one of you.”
Extensive search operations had been launched in the wake of Noah first going missing, with sniffer dogs, an overhead helicopter and rescue teams all deployed, until the search led them to the nearby Decoy Pond.
CCTV footage from the playground had shown Noah's last movements in the playground but his whereabouts had remained a mystery until this evening's heartbreaking update.
Superintendent Pete Partridge said in a statement yesterday: “We are very concerned for Noah’s welfare and need to find him as a matter of urgency.
“A vast number of resources have been deployed by ourselves, our emergency services colleagues and volunteers from SULSAR (Suffolk Lowland Search and Rescue). These resources have been bolstered by members of the public who have turned out in large numbers to assist and we are incredibly grateful for their help and support.
“Given that fast-moving nature of the investigation, it is important that any public searches are co-ordinated with police to ensure we are working together, and that our resources are directed where they can be most effective.”
James Moorhouse