Noah Woods, three, left play area 'through gap in the fence' after running away from relative supervising him before he died in pond, inquest told

- See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source A three-year-old boy ran away from a relative after leaving a play area 'through a gap in the fence' before he was found dead in a lake, an inquest heard today. Noah Woods ignored his relative's calls to stop and sprinted for more than 200 yards down a track before disappearing in the Suffolk village of Brantham on September 15. Some 1,300 members of the public joined a search to find Noah, who police said was non-verbal, partially deaf and had been undergoing an assessment for autism. Metropolitan Police divers recovered his body from a lake, known as Decoy Pond, the following day and officers said his death is not being treated as suspicious. An inquest was opened and adjourned in Ipswich today, which heard a diver found Noah's body about 'five metres from the bank and within submerged tree roots'. Detective Chief Inspector Matthew Connick said that Noah, of East Bergholt, was being 'looked after by relatives and this was part of a normal routine for Noah'. He said they walked to an under-fives play area and CCTV footage in the park 'showed Noah playing with his relative', with the first footage timed at 2.13pm. DCI Connick added that Noah was last seen playing at 2.37pm, but he cautioned that the CCTV 'is motion-activated so doesn't provide continuous footage'. Noah Woods, three, became separated from a relative after visiting a playground in Brantham The playground on Merriam Close in Brantham, from where Noah went missing last week He said the relative, who was not named at the hearing, had provided a statement to police. The officer said Noah 'left through a gap in the fence leading to the memorial garden where he left through an open gate'. He said Noah then ran down a track beside a new-build housing estate and went in the direction of Decoy Pond, while 'being closely followed by his relative who was trying to keep up with him'. DCI Connick added: 'Noah veered off the path into a first set of steps leading into the housing estate. The relative shouted at him and he moved back from the steps and carried on towards Decoy Pond. 'He then moved to the next set of sites leading to the housing estate and the relative again shouted at him, and he carried on to Decoy Pond.' DCI Connick said Noah had disappeared from view after the track he was running on curved around towards Decoy Pond. He said that Noah could no longer be seen by the relative when they reached the bottom of the track, around 200 yards from the play area. The relative and a member of the public immediately began searching, but found no trace of him. Police were informed and launched a huge search for him involving Coastguards, firefighters, helicopters and dog teams as well as members of the public. The Metropolitan Police Underwater and Confined Space Unit sent a team of divers to join the search. Noah's body was found by PC Rhodri Herbert in an area of submerged tree roots around 5 metres from Decoy Pond's banks and about 1.8 metres deep. Suffolk Police issued CCTV footage of Noah's last movements at the playground in Brantham DCI Connick said the search had been conducted 'in the area where he was last seen'. Noah's death was confirmed at 4.31pm on September 16 by paramedics Terrie Hayward and Graham Wareham. His body was formally identified at 10.25pm the same day by his mother Charlie Peck at Ipswich Hospital. A post mortem, conducted by a Home Office pathologist on September 23 at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, gave his provisional cause of death as pending further investigation. But DCI Connick added: 'The police are not treating this death as suspicious, and request than inquest be opened and adjourned for further work to be completed.' Suffolk Assistant Coroner Jyoti Gill expressed her 'deepest condolences to Noah's family and friends, and all those affected by Noah's death.' She added: 'On the basis of the information provided to the court, I formally open the inquest. The inquest will be adjourned.' Meanwhile Suffolk Police today issued a new statement from Noah's parents Rhys Woods and Charlie Peck. The statement said: 'Noah was a happy, cheeky, playful three-year-old boy who loved to laugh, loved to giggle and who brought joy wherever he went. 'He was part of a loving and caring family, living with his mummy, daddy and his little baby brother. He was at the centre of our world. 'Noah was being assessed for autism, although he had not received a diagnosis. He also had mild hearing loss and was speech delayed.' They added that 'despite the challenges he faced, he was learning every day' and was saying new words 'all the time and had only just started finding and using his little voice'. The statement continued: 'One of the things we miss most is the special sound of his voice. It was unique, wonderful, and something we will carry with us for ever. The lake, known as Decoy Pond, is 250 yards from where Noah was last seen by a relative 'He absolutely adored his little baby brother. He loved spending time with him, entertaining him and making him laugh. He would follow him around and always wanted to be close to him. The bond they shared was incredibly special. 'Every Tuesday since the day he was born Noah went to the park with a treasured relative. They had the most wonderful relationship, they loved playing chase together, running around, and exploring the play equipment. 'Those moments were filled with laughter and happiness and are memories our family will treasure forever.' Noah 'loved to be loved', they added, saying he was 'the most affectionate little boy'. He also 'loved hugs and kisses and soaked up every bit of affection he was given'. They continued: 'Every night he would be tickled to sleep. He loved holding hands, being close to people, and feeling safe and loved by those around him. 'He had the most wonderful mannerisms that could make anyone smile. He had a glow about him that lit up every room he walked into. There was something incredibly special about him that drew people to him, and everyone who met him remembers that warmth and happiness. 'As a family, we want Noah's last memory to be one of joy. We want people to remember him running, playing chase, giggling and being the happy little boy that he was. That is who Noah was, and that is how he deserves to be remembered.' CCTV of the last confirmed sighting of Noah from the park at 2.37pm on September 15 A JustGiving page set up by Good Dads Club, a community of fathers based in Colchester, Essex, has since received £113,000 in donations from 6,500 supporters. The fundraiser aims to help Noah's family with expenses at the 'heartbreaking time' and allow them 'time off work to grieve without the added strain of financial worry'. In the family statement, they thanked the Good Dads Club and Ipswich Town Football Club, as well as 'everyone who helped during the search, the emergency services, and the specialist support provided by the police'. They continued: 'Thank you to our family and friends who have surrounded us with love, care and support during the darkest time of our lives. 'A special thank you must go to the entire footballing community, from grassroots clubs through to the highest levels of the game, for the incredible love, support and kind thoughts that have been shown to our family. 'The support we have received has been overwhelming, and we will be forever grateful to every single person who has stood beside us and remembered our beautiful Noah.' Ms Peck also said: 'If there is one thing we could ask of people, it is to hold their children a little tighter, cherish every moment, and never take those precious memories for granted.' Meanwhile it was revealed today that the memorial garden was being built at the rear of the under-fives play area in memory of mother-of-six Anita Rose from Brantham who was murdered in July 2024. Brantham parish council clerk Sarah Keys said that a new wooden fence had been in the process of being put up to separate the garden from the rest of the play area. The memorial garden was being built at the rear of the under-fives play area in memory of mother-of-six Anita Rose (pictured) from Brantham who was murdered in July 2024 As a result of Noah's death, the council has now added extra fence posts to seal up the gap in a corner beside a tree which Noah had got through. Ms Keys said: 'A decision had been made to create the memorial garden for Anita Rose on part of the play area which had been just scrubland before. 'A new fence was being erected to separate the garden from the play area and it had not been finished. One of our parish councillors had been in the process of doing the work. 'As part of the work, a new separate gate had been created for the memorial garden and this had unfortunately been left open. 'After Noah went through, we thought it was important that the work was speeded up. After what happened we wanted to make sure it was even more secure. It was always meant to be done, but we made sure it was finished. 'Work started over the summer, and there has been just one person working on it. 'We wanted to do something in memory of Anita which was in keeping with her family's wishes and was a place where people could come and remember her. It has obviously taken on a different aspect now.' The council added in a statement: 'Brantham Parish Council is deeply saddened by Noah's death and our thoughts remain with his family and all those affected at this extremely difficult time. 'The Parish Council understands that there was a break in the internal fencing, being constructed to separate the play area from the memorial garden, however the whole of the area at Merriam Close, including the play area and memorial garden are completely enclosed by appropriate perimeter fencing. 'The Parish Council will cooperate fully with any investigation and, while enquiries are ongoing, does not consider it appropriate to comment further.' Ms Rose was walking her dog in the countryside near Brantham when she was brutally attacked by on-the-run convict Roy Barclay, 57, who had been living 'off-grid' in a makeshift camp in the area. Chilling CCTV footage showed Barclay prowling behind Ms Rose before he subjected her to 'numerous kicks, stamps and blows' in a 'vicious and brutal' onslaught while she was out with her spaniel, Bruce. The grandmother was found by passers-by on a footpath beside a sewage works but died four days later. Barclay, of no fixed abode, had denied murder, but a jury at Ipswich Crown Court took just two-and-half hours to find him guilty of the murder following a trial. He was jailed for life and ordered to serve a minimum of 25 years.