# Heartbroken father pays tribute to Noah Woods

> Father of 3-year-old Noah Woods, who drowned in pond after running away from play area, describes him as 'sweetest and most innocent boy' after police find body.
- Title: Heartbroken father pays tribute to Noah Woods · Dailymail
- Summary: Father of 3-year-old Noah Woods, who drowned in pond after running away from play area, describes him as 'sweetest and most innocent boy' after police find…
- Keywords: noah woods, autism, drowning, suffolk police, decoy pond, brantham, search, family, tragic accident, unexplained death, news, entertainment
- Source: Dailymail — https://dailymail.com/news/article-16139143/Heartbroken-father-tragic-Noah-Woods-pays-tribute-sweetest-innocent-boy-police-body-lake.html?ito=1490&ns_campaign=1490&ns_mchannel=rss
- Published: 2026-09-17T12:35:20+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: noah woods, autism, drowning, suffolk police, decoy pond, brantham, search, family, tragic accident, unexplained death, news, entertainment
## Noah Woods
Three-year-old Noah Woods disappeared from play area in Brantham, Suffolk.
## Drowning risk
Children with autism face higher drowning risk due to sensory attraction to water.
## Police find body
Suffolk Police recovered Noah's body in Decoy Pond after search.
## Autism connection
Noah was non-verbal, partially deaf, and undergoing autism tests.
## Community search
Hundreds joined search for Noah with police, coastguards, and firefighters.
## Father's tribute
Father calls Noah 'the sweetest and most innocent boy with nothing but love to give'.
## Community support
Over 400 bouquets of flowers and toys left at play area.
## Search efforts
1,600 people registered for search with police portal.
## Autism charity warning
Autism charities warn children with autism face higher drowning risks.
## Family impact
Noah's family informed of death but body not formally identified.
## Searchers' perspective
Retired painter Keith Shears spent seven hours searching for Noah.
## Water safety
Decoy Pond is 150 yards across with shallow banks near water's edge.
## Autism risk factors
Children with autism may have limited water safety skills and panic in water.
## Family's grief
Father says 'no words to describe the pain of this loss'.
## Community response
Brantham Parish Council thanked community for search efforts.
## Financial aid
Just Giving appeal raised £31,000 for family from 2,200 donors.
## Key takeaway

Noah Woods, a 3-year-old with autism, drowned in Decoy Pond after running away from play area; his father describes him as 'the sweetest and most innocent boy' after police recovered his body.