Police issue urgent plea over missing 3-year-old toddler who vanished from playground
A major search operation is underway for a three-year-old boy who disappeared from a playground in Suffolk earlier this week.
On Tuesday afternoon (15 September), Noah Woods went missing after he became separated from a relative at a playground in Merriam Close, Brantham, near Manningtree.
As outlined in a report by Suffolk Police, the toddler, who is non-verbal and partially deaf, is reported to have run off down the alleyway beside the playground towards a new-build housing estate.
Because of these vulnerabilities, authorities are ‘very concerned for his welfare’ and explained that he will not respond to his name.
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Noah is described as white, with curly ginger hair, and he is wearing a white Bluey T-shirt, shorts, and black Vans trainers with a white stripe.
Police, including specially trained officers and dog units, have been searching since yesterday afternoon, and have been assisted by helicopters from the National Police Air Service and HM Coastguard, Suffolk Fire & Rescue Service, Suffolk Lowland Search & Rescue, and hundreds of volunteers.
The BBC reports that, as per Brantham Parish Council, at least 500 people gathered at the village hall this morning in groups of 10 to head out on searches.
However, in a statement released overnight, Superintendent Pete Partridge urged residents not to conduct their own searches and instead to work with police.
He said: "We are grateful for the support from the public, however, ask people not to undertake independent searches overnight. It's important that any public searches are coordinated with police."
The Superintendent 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.”
Police are asking local residents to thoroughly check their gardens, sheds and outbuildings, or any potential areas where a child might hide away.
Meanwhile, anyone with private CCTV or doorbell cameras in the village are asked to review the footage from 3pm yesterday afternoon onwards for any possible sightings of Noah.
As per the BBC, Sarah Keys, from Brantham Parish Council, has asked volunteers not to approach Noah if they see him and not to ‘grab him’.
She urged: "If you see Noah, we need a gentle approach. Do not grab him, it might scare him. Please call 999 and tell them where you are."
In a Facebook post just after 5am on Wednesday (16 September), Brantham Parish Council said there had been no confirmed sightings.
The post said: “The search for Noah continues this morning. If you are able to help with the search today, please keep safe and take care of yourselves.
“Search in pairs where possible, wear high-vis clothing and take extra care around roads, water, woodland and other potentially dangerous areas. Please take a fully charged mobile phone with you.
“Please also check your own property thoroughly, including gardens, sheds, garages, outbuildings, vehicles and under or behind furniture.
“If the police ask you to move away from an area, please follow their instructions. This may be to allow specialist search activity to take place.”
Noah’s father, Rhys Woods, has taken to social media to thank everyone for their support and begged them ‘not to give up’.
As reported by the Ipswich Star, he wrote: “Thank every single one of you who have taken part in the search for our boy Noah.
"To clear things up, because people really do make up their own stories, he is only mildly autistic and has partial hearing loss; he is fully capable of everyday tasks.
"We still have nothing. All the emergency services and all of you have shown how strong this community is, with people coming from far and wide also.”
He added: "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? Reference where I have outlined, and maybe even further than this.
"I cannot go another night knowing he’s out there alone; please don’t give up on him, guys.
"He is out there somewhere, and I appreciate every single one of you."
Anyone who believes they have seen Noah is asked to contact Suffolk police on 999, quoting CAD 203 of 15 September.
Anyone with any other information can report it via the Suffolk police website, by phoning 111, or using the Live Chat service by clicking the icon at the bottom right corner of this site.
Madison Burgess