Inquest told three-year-old Noah Woods left playground through gap in fence before death

A three-year-old boy who was found dead in a pond after going missing from a playground had left the play area through a gap in the fence, an inquest has heard.

Noah Woods became separated from a relative after visiting a playground in Merriam Close, Brantham, on the afternoon of 15 September, according to Suffolk police. He was later found in a pond in the direction he had gone after leaving the playground.

Details heard at inquest

The inquest was told that Noah left the playground through a gap in the fence surrounding the play area, a detail that has become a focus of the proceedings examining the circumstances of his death.

Suffolk police confirmed the timeline of events, noting that the separation from the relative occurred during the visit to the playground on the afternoon in question. The inquest process is intended to establish the facts surrounding the death.

Further details from the inquest, including any findings on the cause of death or recommendations arising from the case, were not immediately available.