Wowcher has faced widespread condemnation after sending a promotional email on Saturday with the subject line: 'Snap up these deals faster than a croc can catch a kid!' The email was distributed just hours after a three-year-old boy was attacked by a crocodile at Johnson's Zoo in Old Hurst, Cambridgeshire, after being allegedly thrown into the enclosure.
Boy's Condition and Incident Details
The three-year-old boy remains in critical condition after the attack on Thursday, June 18. Police reported that he was dropped approximately 15 feet onto a concrete walkway, resulting in a suspected broken arm and pelvis, before falling into the water where the crocodile attacked him. Staff members, including zoo owner's wife Tracey Johnson, 55, and her son Edward, 29, jumped into the enclosure to rescue the boy.
Public and Social Media Backlash
The email triggered immediate outrage on social media, with recipients sharing screenshots and condemning the company. One user wrote: 'Very distasteful.' Another said: 'I have a dark sense of humour, but I really don't know what Wowcher are thinking here. Imagine if the parents received this?!' A third commented: 'Do you think this is funny? You should be ashamed of yourselves. Apologise immediately.' One recipient stated: 'Talk about seriously bad taste. Who on earth thought that this subject line was ok?!'
Wowcher's Apology and Internal Review
A spokesperson for Wowcher issued an apology, stating: '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. 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.'
Arrest and Police Investigation
Police were called to Johnson's Zoo on Thursday and arrested a 30-year-old man on suspicion of attempted murder. He was later released on bail until September 18, with police stating he was 'not fit for interview'. Witnesses reported hearing a loud scream at the time of the incident. One mother, in her 20s, 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.' She added that she saw a man of larger build with two carers who were not paying much attention.
Expert Comments on Crocodile Behaviour
Chris Newman, director of the National Centre for Reptile Welfare, commented on the crocodiles' behaviour: 'To bite is their natural reaction. They are predators. They're used to people and well fed but it would still be their nature to snap. The issue is the force of the bite can be horrific and it depends what size the crocodile was.' Newman, a friend of the Johnson family, added: 'My heart goes out to Tracey and to the child. She's a lovely person, but she can be a tigress and her motherly instincts would have kicked in. I know her. That's exactly what Tracey would have done and if she was involved she would have known how to deal with the crocodiles.'
