The search for a three-year-old boy, Noah Woods, who is non-verbal and partially deaf, continues into its second day after he went missing from a playground in Brantham, Suffolk. Local officials reported that there have been no sightings of Noah since he ran away from his grandfather at approximately 3 PM on Tuesday, September 15. Hundreds of volunteers have joined the police in the search efforts throughout the town.
Noah, who is autistic and may not respond to his name, is described as white with curly ginger hair. At the time of his disappearance, he was wearing a t-shirt featuring the cartoon character Bluey, shorts, and white trainers. The alleyway he ran down leads to a new housing estate, a pond, and a railway line.
Noah's great uncle, Tony Malcolm, participated in the search and described him as 'a lovely little kid.' Residents have been asked to check their gardens, sheds, and outbuildings. A Coastguard helicopter has been deployed to assist in the search, which is ongoing in the area near the estuary of the River Stour.
Train services between Manningtree and Ipswich are operating at reduced speeds due to the search activities. Volunteers were advised to rest overnight but many chose to remain active in the search. The Brantham Parish Council expressed gratitude for the overwhelming community support and stated that the Village Hall would remain open overnight for those involved in the search.
In an update, the council noted that there have been no sightings of Noah and reminded the public to be courteous to police officers conducting specialized search operations. The police have requested that volunteers take precautions, travel in pairs, and avoid dangerous areas.
Suffolk Police have appealed for any information regarding Noah's whereabouts, emphasizing that he was last seen running down an alleyway beside the playground. The search continues as authorities and volunteers work together to locate him.