Boy, 3, Left Playground Through Fence Gap Before Drowning, Inquest Hears

A three-year-old boy exited a play area through a gap in the fence before being discovered deceased in a lake, an inquest has been told. Noah Woods had become separated from a relative after visiting a playground in the Suffolk village of Brantham on Tuesday of the previous week.

The hearing in Ipswich was informed that approximately 1,300 members of the public joined the search for Noah, who police described as non-verbal, partially deaf, and undergoing an assessment for autism.

Divers from the Metropolitan Police recovered his body from a lake, locally known as Decoy Pond, the following day. Authorities stated that his death was not being treated as suspicious.

A JustGiving page established by the Good Dads Club, a fathers' group based in Colchester, Essex, has garnered £113,000 in donations from 6,500 supporters. The fundraiser aims to assist Noah's family with expenses during this difficult period, allowing them time off work to grieve without financial stress.

Noah's father, Rhys Woods, issued a statement last week expressing profound grief. "There are no words to describe the pain of this loss, we are all absolutely heartbroken," he said. "Noah was the sweetest and most innocent little boy, with nothing but love to give, and we are going to miss him so very much."

Alongside police, the search effort involved helicopters, the coastguard, fire and rescue services, lowland search and rescue volunteers, and other agencies. CCTV footage of Noah's last known movements at the playground was released by Suffolk Police. He was last seen at the park at 2:37 p.m. on September 15.