Noah Woods inquest hears toddler left playground through fence gap

An inquest into the death of three-year-old Noah Woods has heard that he left a playground through a gap in a fence, passed through a memorial garden and ran towards a nearby pond. Noah disappeared in Brantham, Suffolk, on 15 September. His body was found the following day. [1]

Det Ch Insp Matt Connick, of Suffolk Police, told the court that CCTV showed Noah in the play area with a relative as part of their normal routine, BBC News reported. The detective said Noah went through the fence gap into the memorial garden, then left through an open gate and ran along a path on a new housing estate towards Decoy Pond. [1]

The relative followed closely, trying to catch up, and called out to Noah before he went out of sight, the hearing was told. [1]

Brantham Parish Council, which maintains the Merriam Close play area, said it understood there was a break in internal fencing being constructed to separate the playground from the memorial garden. It said the combined site was enclosed by appropriate perimeter fencing and pledged to cooperate fully with any investigation. The council also expressed its sadness at Noah’s death and offered its condolences to his family. [1]

At least 1,300 people helped search for Noah in the 24 hours after he disappeared. Helicopters, dog units and members of the public searched the area near the River Stour, on the Suffolk–Essex border. Metropolitan Police divers found his body in Decoy Pond on 16 September. [1]

A post-mortem examination was carried out at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, but further investigation is needed before a final conclusion can be reached on the cause of death. Police are not treating the death as suspicious. [1]