Father of Noah Woods, 3, pays tribute to his ‘sweetest and most innocent’ little boy

17th August, 2026 | News

The search for missing three-year-old Noah Woods ended in tragedy on Wednesday after police dive teams recovered his body from Decoy Pond in Brantham, Suffolk.

Noah, who was non-verbal and partially deaf, went missing on Tuesday afternoon after becoming separated from a relative at a playground on Merriam Close. His condition made the search effort particularly challenging, as emergency crews noted he would not respond if his name was called. The extensive search involved helicopters, sniffer dogs, thermal imaging, search and rescue volunteers, and the coastguard.

Key Updates

• Father’s Tribute: Noah’s father, Rhys Woods, expressed deep heartbreak on behalf of his family, describing Noah as the “sweetest and most innocent little boy” and thanking the community and emergency services for their overwhelming support.
• Community Fundraising: A fundraiser launched by Good Dads Club has raised over £43,000 to assist the family during this time.
• Police Investigation: Suffolk Police confirmed the death is not being treated as suspicious, though inquiries continue before filing a report for the coroner.
• Community Tributes: Ipswich Town FC players will wear black armbands in Noah’s memory during their upcoming match. Brantham Leisure Centre remains open to offer support to residents.