Noah Woods' father thanks thousands who helped search for missing son in heartbreaking tribute

The father of Noah Woods has paid tribute to his three-year-old son, saying he “will be loved forever” and that there are no words to describe the family’s grief.

Noah went missing from a playground in Brantham, Suffolk, at around 3pm on Tuesday, after becoming separated from a relative - believed to have been his grandfather.

More than 1,300 people joined the search over the following 24 hours, and yesterday afternoon, the body of a child was sadly discovered in a nearby pond.

In a post on Facebook, Noah’s father, Rhys Woods, described his son as “the sweetest and most innocent little boy, with nothing but love to give”.

“We are going to miss him so very much,” he wrote.

“This was the most heartbreaking outcome for us. We kept hoping that he would be hiding somewhere obvious and that someone would find him. That’s what we told ourselves throughout the search.”

People travelled from as far away as Birmingham and Hampshire to help look for Noah, who was from East Bergholt.

Emergency services, including helicopters and dog units, joined members of the public in searching the area near the River Stour, close to the Suffolk-Essex border.

Reflecting on the overwhelming response from the public, Mr Woods said Noah had “made an impact across the whole nation”.

“You have all taken Noah into your own hearts,” he wrote, thanking everyone who had helped in the effort to bring his son home safely.

He expressed his gratitude to the emergency services, local businesses and venues in the village, as well as the many members of the public who gave up their time to take part in the search.

“The compassion shown by all of you will never be forgotten by us, and brought us comfort and strength at the darkest time of our lives,” he added.

The message was signed with love and gratitude from Noah’s father, mother and younger brother.

Mr Woods ended his tribute by speaking directly to his son.

“Noah, you will be loved forever, you will never be forgotten and we miss you so, so much.

“It has been a privilege to be your parents and to have been able to pack so much love into the short three years you were with us.”