The dad of a missing three-year-old boy has issued a desperate plea as police cordoned off a lake in the huge search for the toddler.
A massive search has entered its second day for Noah Woods who went missing in Brantham in Suffolk. The youngster, who is autistic, non-verbal and has partial hearing loss, was last seen at around 3pm on Tuesday (September 15) when he became separated from a relative after visiting a playground.
It is thought that Noah ran off down an alleyway beside the playground towards a nearby new-build housing estate. Police have today been seen cordoning off a nearby lake known as Decoy Pond as well as a nearby wooded area, with officers saying it is ‘out of bounds’ for members of the public.
Amid the search, Noah’s dad Rhys issued a plea to widen the search for his son. He said he ‘cannot go another night knowing he’s out there alone’.
In a post, he wrote: “Please don’t give up on him guys. He is out there somewhere and I appreciate every single one of you.”
He said that ‘high risk areas’ near where Noah went missing – a pond and railway lines – had been search by emergency services who are confident Noah is not there. On Wednesday, volunteers could be seen in hi-vis jackets helping to search the area, with efforts being co-ordinated from the village hall and a local leisure centre.
A new image of Noah released by police shortly after 2am on Wednesday, September 16(Image: Suffolk Police)
They are part of a massive search operation led by police, fire, coastguard and search and rescue teams. Sniffer dogs are also being used and a helicopter flying overhead.
Noah is white with curly ginger hair and was wearing a white T-shirt with the TV character Bluey on, shorts and black Vans trainers with a white stripe. People have been urged not to grab or approach Noah if they find him, but instead to call police on 999 immediately and give their exact location using the What3Words app.
Advice from Brantham Parish Council to volunteers included: “You are looking for a frightened three year old. Think about slight movements in your peripheral, high and low, tiny small spaces use all your senses whilst searching.”
South Suffolk MP James Cartlidge said on X that he and the local police force are ‘incredibly grateful to the community and all of the volunteers for their help with the search for missing Noah’, and confirmed that more police resources had been sent to the village on Wednesday morning.
In an earlier entry he called the toddler’s disappearance ‘incredibly concerning’, adding “I simply can’t imagine what his family and loved ones are going through, but they will be in the thoughts of us all”.
Local residents wait outside Brantham Village Hall, to join police officers as they continue their search for Noah(Image: Will Colebourne/PA Wire)
Police earlier asked local residents to check their gardens thoroughly, sheds and outbuildings or any potential areas where a child might hide. Anyone with private CCTV or doorbell cameras in the village, or who was driving through the area with a dashcam, are asked to review the footage from 3pm yesterday afternoon onwards for any possible sightings of Noah.
Superintendent Pete Partridge said in a statement: “We are very concerned for Noah’s welfare and need to find him as a matter of urgency. A vast number of resources have been deployed by ourselves, our emergency services colleagues and volunteers from SULSAR (Suffolk Lowland Search and Rescue).
“These resources have been bolstered by members of the public who have turned out in large numbers to assist and we are incredibly grateful for their help and support. Given that fast-moving nature of the investigation, it is important that any public searches are co-ordinated with police to ensure we are working together, and that our resources are directed where they can be most effective.”
