A three-year-old boy who tragically died after disappearing from a play area in Suffolk escaped through a gap in a fence before reaching a nearby pond, an inquest has heard.
Noah Woods, from the village of East Bergholt, went missing on 15 September, triggering a massive search operation across the village of Brantham. His body was recovered from the Decoy Pond by police divers the following day.
During the opening of the inquest at Suffolk Coroner’s Court in Ipswich, Assistant Coroner Jyoti Gill described the incident as a “very sad and tragic death.”
Providing details on the sequence of events, Detective Chief Inspector Matt Connick of Suffolk Police told the court that CCTV footage captured Noah playing in the park with a relative nearby. The investigation revealed that the toddler managed to slip away from the play area through a gap in the boundary fencing.
According to the evidence presented, Noah walked into a memorial garden before exiting through an open gate. He then made his way down a path on a new housing development that led directly toward the water.
DCI Connick confirmed that the relative had acted quickly, closely following the boy in an attempt to catch up with him. The relative called out to the toddler, but Noah moved out of sight shortly thereafter. As the situation escalated, a second individual joined the search before emergency services were alerted and a full-scale search operation was launched.
Despite the rapid response from police, the search concluded in heartbreak the following morning when police divers discovered Noah’s body in the Decoy Pond.
The hearing was adjourned by Ms. Gill as the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the toddler’s death continues. The case has deeply affected the local community, which rallied together during the hours Noah was missing.
The findings presented at the inquest provide a harrowing insight into how quickly a family day out can turn into an unimaginable catastrophe. While further inquiries will take place to fully establish the timeline and safety measures surrounding the area, the focus remains on the devastating loss of a young life.
A spokesperson for Suffolk Police previously expressed their gratitude to the local community and volunteers who assisted in the search efforts, noting that the entire force’s thoughts remained with Noah’s family during this “devastating time.”
The inquest will resume at a later date once further reports have been gathered.
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