A meme mocking a three-year-old whose body was found this week after a frantic search has been labelled as “disgusting”.
Noah Wood went missing from a playground in Branthom, Suffolk this week after escaping his grandfather’s supervision.
His body was located in Decoy Pond on Wednesday in a devastating end to a frantic search involving police and Coastguard helicopters and more than a thousand volunteers.
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Days after the grim discovery, a crude meme circulated on social media about Noah, making reference to Madeleine McCann, The Sun reported.
It sparked outrage from netizens who took to the comments to share their disgust.
One commenter wrote, “This is disgusting and needs dealing with. Absolutely vile human to post something like that.”
“The entire nation has been heartbroken by the news out of Suffolk regarding little Noah Woods. To see people already weaponising this tragedy online to mock him and Madeline McCann less than a day later is utterly repulsive,” another added, according to LADBible.
A spokesperson from Suffolk Police said they were aware of the vile Facebook post.
“We’ve had multiple reports of this and it is being looked into,” they said.
The post has since been removed by its creator, who apologised for their “dark humour”.
“I’m sorry if my meme caused anyone any harm or serious offence,” they wrote.
“It was not my intention to distress anyone who may have been affected by my content.
“I have removed the post and I can only apologise for sharing something that causes so many people to feel some way about it.
“I saw it as dark humour and the timing couldn’t have been any worse, I sincerely apologise and will accept any more abuse or death threats, as deserved.”
The online post comes mere days after Noah’s shattered father Rhys revealed the full extent of his anguish while thanking those who joined the effort to find his three-year-old son.
“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,” he said.
“It seems he has made an impact across the whole nation, you have all taken Noah into your 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.”
Mr Wood added that the recovery of his body was “the most heartbreaking outcome”.
A police officer at a playground in Merriam Close Brantham Credit: Will Colebourne/PA Wire
“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.”
A fundraiser for the family has raised more than £90,000 ($A169,000).
Organisers Good Dads Club wrote, “While no amount of money can undo these life altering events, every single financial contribution will go directly toward helping Noah’s family’s expenses, navigate daily bills, and take the necessary time off work to grieve without the added strain of financial worry”.