A safeguarding investigation has been launched into the care of a man arrested after a three-year-old boy was allegedly thrown into a crocodile enclosure at Johnsons of Old Hurst zoo near Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire.
Incident Details
The boy was seriously injured after being attacked by at least one crocodile on June 18. He remains in hospital after undergoing five operations, with his parents stating they have been "living at the hospital" during his recovery.
A 30-year-old man from Norfolk was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. He was later released on bail after police assessed him as not being fit for interview. The suspect reportedly has learning difficulties and had been on a trip with carers.
Section 42 Inquiry
Norfolk County Council has confirmed a Section 42 inquiry under the Care Act 2014 is underway. The council stressed it did not provide, commission or pay for the man's care.
A Section 42 inquiry is launched when a local authority believes an adult with care and support needs is experiencing, or is at risk of, abuse or neglect and is unable to protect themselves because of those needs.
A spokesperson for Norfolk County Council said: "The individual in question is not receiving any care provided, commissioned nor paid for by Norfolk County Council. We can confirm that a Section 42 inquiry is underway. We're unable to comment further on an ongoing inquiry."
Zoo Response and Rescue
Johnsons of Old Hurst previously said it had been "alerted to reports that a child had allegedly been thrown into one of our crocodile enclosures". Cambridgeshire Police said the youngster remains in Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge in a "stable condition" after being "injured by a crocodile".
Officers were called to the zoo by the ambulance service at 1.24pm on June 18 following reports that the three-year-old had suffered serious injuries. Tracey Johnson, the zoo's co-owner, reportedly jumped into the enclosure to rescue the child.
