Tracey Johnson, 55, her husband Andrew, 56, and their son Edward, 29, heroically jumped into a crocodile enclosure at Johnsons of Old Hurst zoo in Huntingdon on Thursday to save a three-year-old boy. The child had been allegedly thrown 15 feet into the pit by a stranger, as his family watched in horror.
Attack and Rescue
At least one crocodile attacked the boy, causing a broken arm and pelvis. Tracey Johnson, owner of the family-run zoo, was among the first to rush to the child's rescue, followed by her husband and son. Together, they wrestled the child from the crocodile's grip and brought him to safety.
Arrest and Investigation
A 30-year-old man from Norfolk was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and later bailed until September 18 after being assessed as unfit for interview. A source told The Sun that the suspect has hearing difficulties and was accompanied by two carers who, according to a witness, were on their phones when the alleged attack occurred.
A mother at the zoo said: 'I don't know if it was definitely him but I saw one bloke of a bigger build; he had two carers with him and they weren't paying him much attention. If it was him, his carers were maybe ten metres behind him and not paying much attention. They were English and chatting among themselves and on their phones.'
Victim's Condition and Police Update
Police were called at 1:24 pm by the ambulance service. On Friday, Cambridgeshire Constabulary reported the victim was in critical but stable condition in hospital. Det Insp Verity McCann said: 'Our enquiries are ongoing as we continue to understand the circumstances surrounding this distressing incident. Our thoughts remain with the boy, and his family and specialist officers continue to support them through this difficult time.'
It is believed the child was bitten by either a Nile or saltwater crocodile, the latter having the strongest bite of any living animal. The Major Crime Unit is leading the investigation.
