THE dad of Noah Woods has paid a heartbreaking tribute after a body was found in the search for the missing three-year-old.

Little Noah, 3, vanished after running off from a playpark on Tuesday afternoon – sparking a huge search operation in Brantham, Suffolk.

Little Noah disappeared from a playpark

Noah’s family have been left heartbroken

Noah, who is partly deaf and non-verbal, had been with his granddad before disappearing from the under 5s playground in Merriam Close.

On Wednesday evening Suffolk Police Superintendent Tom Pearse tragically confirmed that a child’s body had been found following the frantic search for the youngster.

The boy’s grieving dad has now paid tribute after a police divers recovered a child’s body from a large pond near where the toddler vanished.

He said: “There are no words to describe the pain of this loss, we are all absolutely heartbroken, Noah was the sweetest and most innocent little boy, with nothing but love to give, and we are going to miss him so very much.

The playpark was near a large pond where a body was found on Wednesday afternoon

CCTV released by cops shows Noah running around the playpark just before he disappeared

“It seems he has made an impact across the whole nation, you have all taken Noah into you’re own hearts, with all the overwhelming help, we were all just trying to bring him home to us safe and sound.

“A heartfelt thank you to everyone in our community (even far and wide) who came together to search for our boy.

“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: “This was the most heartbreaking outcome for us, we were just hoping that he would be hiding somewhere obvious where someone could find him, that’s what we kept telling ourselves the whole time.

“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 be able to have packed so much love in the short 3 years you were with us.”

It comes after police confirmed a body had been found in a lake close to the playground Noah disappeared from on Tuesday.

The discovery of a body came late yesterday afternoon. Shortly before 5.40pm a forensics van was seen driving down to the pond police divers had been searching.

Speaking after the tragic find, Superintendent Tom Pearse said: “First and foremost our thoughts are with Noah’s family and all who knew him.

Tributes at the playpark where Noah was last seen alive

Scores of volunteers had joined cops and coastguard rescuers in the 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.”

Volunteers who had helped with the search effort sobbed as they comforted each other after the briefing.

Following Noah’s disappearance a massive search operation was launched with more than 1,000 volunteers assisting.

The Met Police deployed specialist divers to search Decoy Pond, a fishing lake about 0.2 miles away from the park where Noah vanished.

Dog units, police and Coastguard helicopters were deployed, while a “vast amounts” of locals joined the desperate hunt for the tot.

Brantham Parish Council had previously urged residents to check gardens, sheds and “under furniture” in a desperate plea on social media.

Source: https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/40404427/noah-woods-family-tribute-body/