The father of three-year-old Noah Woods has paid tribute to his son after the child was found dead in a lake in Suffolk following an extensive search.

Noah was last seen alive on Tuesday afternoon after he ran away from his grandfather at a play area for children under five in Brantham, Suffolk. CCTV footage showed the boy playing in the area shortly before he disappeared.

A search involving specialist police dive teams, fire and rescue services, coastguard teams and more than 1,000 volunteers continued for about 27 hours.

A body was discovered in nearby Decoy Pond on Wednesday afternoon. Police said the death was unexplained but was not being treated as suspicious.

On Thursday, Noah’s father, Rhys Woods, confirmed that the body was his son. Noah was non-verbal, partially deaf and undergoing tests for autism.

In a message posted on Facebook, Woods described his son as “the sweetest and most innocent little boy” and said Noah had “nothing but love to give”.

The family expressed their heartbreak and thanked the emergency services and volunteers who took part in the search.

Woods said the family had continued hoping that Noah would be found safe, describing the outcome as “the most heartbreaking” result they could have imagined.

Noah was with his grandfather when he disappeared. Investigators said he ran down an alleyway beside the playground towards woodland and Decoy Pond.

The pond, located about 300 yards from the play area, is known as a wildlife area and private fishing spot. Several paths provide access to the water from the surrounding woodland.

Hundreds of volunteers joined police and emergency teams in searching the area before police divers recovered Noah’s body from the pond.

Brantham Leisure Centre reopened as a community hub on Thursday, providing a place for local residents and volunteers who had taken part in the search to gather.

Among those who searched was 84-year-old Keith Shears, who spent seven hours looking for Noah with his wife, Jane. He said volunteers had continued hoping the child would be found alive.

A fundraising appeal organised by the Good Dads Club had raised more than £31,000 from more than 2,200 people by 1pm on Thursday. The appeal was set up to help Noah’s family cope with the financial and emotional burden following his death.

SOURCE: The Telegraph, Will Bolton, September 17, 2026.