Noah Woods died after leaving park through gap in fence, inquest hears

Three-year-old Noah Woods who was found dead in a pond following a huge search in Suffolk had left a play area “through a gap in the fence”, an inquest has heard.

A major search was carried out in the village of Brantham after the toddler went missing on 15 September. His body was found the next day in nearby water by police divers.

Assistant coroner Jyoti Gill said it was a “very sad and tragic death” as she opened and adjourned the inquest in Ipswich.

Suffolk Coroner’s Court heard from police that Noah had left the playground, walked into a memorial garden and left that through an open gate. He then ran down a path on a new housing estate towards the nearby Decoy Pond.

Det Ch Insp Matt Connick from Suffolk Police told the court that CCTV showed Noah in the play area and was “being looked after by relatives and this was part of a normal routine”.

The detective said Noah “left through a gap in the fence leading to the memorial garden where he left through an open gate”.

After he had left the play area, he was closely followed by the relative trying to catch up with him, he added.

The inquest heard the relative had shouted out to Noah, who lived in neighbouring East Bergholt, but he went out of sight shortly afterwards.

Another man was said to have joined the search and then police were called.