Three-year-old Noah Woods, who was found dead in a pond following a huge search in Suffolk, had left a play area “through a gap in the fence”, an inquest has heard.
A major search was carried out in the village of Brantham after the toddler went missing on 15 September. His body was found the next day in nearby water by police divers.
Assistant coroner Jyoti Gill said it was a “very sad and tragic death” as she opened and adjourned the inquest in Ipswich.
A tribute issued by Noah’s family called him a “happy, cheeky, playful” boy who loved to laugh, with his mother urging other parents to “hold their children a little tighter and cherish every moment”.
Suffolk Coroner’s Court heard from police that Noah had left the playground, walked into a memorial garden and left that through an open gate. He then ran down a path on a new housing estate towards nearby Decoy Pond.
Det Ch Insp Matt Connick from Suffolk Police told the court that CCTV showed Noah in the play area being looked after by a relative, which was “part of a normal routine”.
The detective said Noah “left through a gap in the fence leading to the memorial garden where he left through an open gate”.
After he had left the play area, he was closely followed by the relative trying to catch up with him, Connick added.
The inquest heard the relative had shouted out to Noah, who lived in neighbouring East Bergholt, but he went out of sight shortly afterwards.
Another man was said to have joined the search and then police were called.
A statement from Brantham Parish Council, which maintains the play area at Merriam Close, said it was “deeply saddened by Noah’s death and our thoughts remain with his family and all those affected at this extremely difficult time”.
“The parish council understands that there was a break in the internal fencing, being constructed to separate the play area from the memorial garden, however the whole of the area at Merriam Close, including the play area and memorial garden are completely enclosed by appropriate perimeter fencing,” it said.
“The council will co-operate fully with any investigation and, while inquiries are ongoing, does not consider it appropriate to comment further.”