A three-year-old boy remains in a critical but stable condition after he was allegedly thrown into a crocodile enclosure at a zoo in Cambridgeshire, with new details emerging that no crocodiles were seized or killed following the incident.
Incident at Johnsons of Old Hurst
Cambridgeshire Police confirmed that specially trained officers are at the hospital supporting the boy's family. The toddler sustained serious injuries while inside the enclosure and was pulled out by zoo staff. The incident occurred on Thursday at Johnsons of Old Hurst, a zoo located north of Huntingdon that houses more than 100 animals, including lions and tigers.
Tracey Johnson, 55, the wife of zoo owner Andrew Johnson, reportedly jumped into the enclosure to rescue the child. The zoo's crocodile house, built in 2009, is a repurposed cattle barn where visitors walk along raised metal walkways overlooking expansive pools surrounded by tropical plants.
Arrest and Bail
A 30-year-old man from Norfolk was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder but was released on bail after being assessed as not fit for interview. He has been bailed until September 18. Police have not disclosed the relationship between the man and the boy.
An unnamed woman in her 20s who was at the zoo recalled the moment the boy was thrown into the enclosure. She said: "We were sitting on a bench in the park between the bear and the crocodile enclosure. We heard a loud scream. Never in a million years did I think someone was in with the crocodiles. The whole zoo went really quiet and it felt really eerie."
Zoo's Response
In a statement released after the incident, the zoo said: "Our thoughts and prayers are with the boy and his family following the incident that occurred today. Out of respect to the family, our Tropical House will remain closed until further notice."
Police confirmed the boy remains in a critical but stable condition two days after the attack. The investigation is ongoing.
