Hundreds join search for missing Noah Woods, 3 – this is what we know

Hundreds of people have joined the search for missing three-year-old Noah Woods in Brantham, Suffolk, with his father urging the public to keep looking for his son. Police have cordoned off a lake and a footpath close to a playground where Noah, who is non-verbal, partially deaf and undergoing assessment for autism, disappeared. Noah was last seen at 2.37pm on Tuesday after he became separated from a relative when visiting the playground in Merriam Close, police said. Shorts He is reported to have run off down the alleyway beside the playground towards a new-build housing estate. The toddler’s disappearance has been the subject of intense speculation on social media. Here is what is really known about him and the moments before he went missing as the search enters a second day. What do we know about Noah? Noah is described as white, with curly ginger hair. He was last seen wearing a white Bluey T-shirt, shorts and black Vans trainers with a white stripe. Local residents wait outside Brantham Village Hall to join police officers as they continue their search for missing three-year-old Noah Woods (Photo: Will Colebourne/PA) Police said he is non-verbal, has partial hearing loss and is currently undergoing an assessment for autism. Because of his additional vulnerabilities, he will not respond to his name. His father, Rhys Woods, wrote on Facebook that Noah is “fully capable of everyday tasks”. Mr Woods said: “The emergency services are very confident that the high risk areas (Decoy pond, railway lines) are all clear. “This means, knowing our boy, he has gone even further. Could I ask that all of you brilliant people out there today expand further if you are able to?” He added: “I cannot go another night knowing he’s out there alone. Please don’t give up on him, guys.” What do we know about the police search? Police, including specially trained officers and dog units, have been searching for Noah since yesterday afternoon. Helicopters from the National Police Air Service and HM Coastguard are assisting their searches, while HM Coastguard, Suffolk Fire & Rescue Service, and Suffolk Lowland Search and Rescue are providing ground support. Foot, aerial and thermal searches are also planned, with officers continuing to review CCTV and doorcam footage. Police cordoned off a footpath beside a playground in Merriam Close on Wednesday, and officers have begun door-to-door enquiries. Beyond the cordoned-off path, officers have focused efforts to find Noah around the Stour estuary and a nearby railway line. Police cordoned off a footpath beside a playground in Merriam Close, Brantham (Photo: Will Colebourne/PA) A lake known as Decoy Pond has also been declared “out of bounds” to members of the public and cordoned off by police tape. Search and rescue volunteers in white helmets have been observed searching along a ditch between farm fields and checking in undergrowth. Hundreds of members of the public have volunteered to help with search efforts, and the area they have been tasked with searching has now widened to include East Bergholt and Manningtree. Police said the search is being treated as a missing person investigation at this stage and there is nothing to indicate anything sinister or any element of criminality had taken place, but were keeping “an open mind as to the circumstances”. At a briefing, volunteers were told not to approach Noah if they see him, the BBC reported. Lowland search and rescue volunteers in white helmets have joined search efforts (Photo: Will Colebourne/PA) “If you see Noah, we need a gentle approach,” Sarah Keys of Brantham Parish Council said. “Do not grab him; it might scare him. Please call 999 and tell them where you are.” Superintendent Pete Partridge from Suffolk Police said: “We are very concerned for Noah’s welfare and need to find him as a matter of urgency.” He added: “Given the fast-moving nature of the investigation, it is important that any public searches are coordinated with police to ensure we are working together and that our resources are directed where they can be most effective.” What are police requesting from members of the public? Police have asked local residents to thoroughly check their gardens, sheds and outbuildings and any other areas where a child might hide away. Hundreds of members of the public have volunteered to help with search efforts (Photo: Will Colebourne/PA) They have also requested that anyone with personal CCTV or doorbell cameras in the village, as well as motorists with dashcams, review footage from 3pm yesterday onwards for any possible sightings of Noah. Superintendent Tom Pearse said: “We are extremely grateful for the support shown by the public. If you are helping please report into the co-ordination centre to ensure the search continues to be done in a systematic and co-ordinated fashion. “This will ensure we can carefully plan and take account of people supporting the search. We politely ask people to avoid open waters and railways – these are areas that require specialist and professional expertise. “We also ask that personal drones are not used as these can interfere with specialist search equipment.” Anyone who believes they have seen Noah is asked to contact Suffolk police on 999 and quote CAD 203 of 15 September.