Wowcher has issued an unreserved apology after sending an email with a subject line that appeared to mock a crocodile attack on a three-year-old boy at a zoo. The boy remains in a critical but stable condition at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge following the incident on Thursday at Johnsons of Old Hurst in Huntingdonshire.
Email Subject Line Sparks Outrage
On Saturday, Wowcher customers received an email promoting deals on getaways and activities, headlined: "Snap up these deals quicker than a croc can catch a kid." Screenshots of the email quickly spread on social media, sparking widespread condemnation. A community notice board post on Facebook questioned: "Why do wowcher think its ok to use this as a heading on their emails??" One customer said they had "now unsubscribed", while another called it "disgusting" and suggested someone should be fired. Another wrote: "Emailed them back but no answer. Won't be using them again for sure, even if its a poor effort at a joke somehow."
Wowcher's Apology and Response
A spokesperson for Wowcher said: "We are extremely sorry for an email subject line sent by Wowcher yesterday. The wording was unacceptable. It should never have been written. It was never approved for use. The responsibility sits with us and we are urgently reviewing how our processes failed." The statement continued: "We recognise the hurt and distress it has caused, particularly for the young child's family at this unimaginably difficult time. We are reviewing all scheduled marketing content while we urgently strengthen our creative, approval and sign-off safeguards. There is no excuse for this. We apologise unreservedly and will take the necessary steps to make sure this does not happen again."
Details of the Crocodile Attack
The boy was allegedly thrown into a crocodile enclosure at the zoo. A 30-year-old man from Norfolk was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and has been released on bail until September 18. Police said the man was assessed as not fit for interview and reportedly has learning difficulties. He had been on a trip with a carer. Cambridgeshire Police were called to the zoo at 1.24pm on Thursday. The boy sustained serious injuries and was pulled out by zoo staff. Tracey Johnson, wife of the zoo owner, reportedly jumped into the enclosure to save the child. Detective Inspector Verity McCann said: "Our inquiries 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."
