A body has been found in the search for three-year-old Noah Woods who vanished after a visit to a village playground.
Several hundred volunteers as well as teams from the police, fire, coastguard and search and rescue had joined the desperate hunt for the toddler, who ran down an alleyway in Brantham, Suffolk on Tuesday afternoon and disappeared.
In an update on Wednesday, Superintendent Tom Pearse from Suffolk police said that the body of a child had been discovered in a nearby pond and that Noah’s family had been told.
“First and foremost, our thoughts are with Noah’s family and all those who knew him,” he told journalists at Brantham Leisure Centre.
Noah’s body was recovered from Decoy Pond, a fishing lake near to the play area in Merriam Close where he was last seen.
Specialist dive teams from the Metropolitan Police had been called in to help with the hunt for the little boy and were seen searching the water on Wednesday afternoon.
Mr Pearse said: “We have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of public support, people putting on their boots and helping us search.
“As a parent myself, I completely understand why people would want to help and such a response is one that typifies the strong sense of community and the heart-warming nature of Suffolk people that make the county such a special place.
“I am sure you appreciate the family now need time, space and privacy and I thank you for your understanding in this.”
Noah, who disappeared after becoming separated from a relative, was non-verbal and partially deaf and would not have responded to his name if called.
As well as a massive ground search, helicopters, sniffer dogs, thermal imaging were used to try and find Noah, as officers went door to door and scoured CCTV.
Volunteers gathered in a garden area at Brantham Leisure Centre were brought to tears after Mr Pearse broke the news.
His own voice cracked as he praised those gathered for helping in the search for the little boy.
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