A three-year-old boy was rescued from a crocodile enclosure at a zoo in Huntingdonshire after the zoo owner's wife reportedly jumped in to save him. The incident occurred at Johnson's of Old Hurst, where police arrested a 30-year-old man from Norfolk on suspicion of attempted murder.
Incident Details
Cambridgeshire Police were called to the zoo at 1:24 PM on Thursday following reports of an incident involving a three-year-old boy who ended up in the crocodile enclosure. A local villager told the Press Association that Tracey Johnson, wife of zoo owner Andy Johnson, jumped into the enclosure to rescue the child.
The boy was taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge with serious injuries and remains in critical but stable condition. Police confirmed that the arrested man and the child are not believed to be known to each other.
Police Investigation
Detective Inspector Verity McCann stated: "At this stage we are speaking to people who were at the zoo at the time of this distressing incident to understand more about the circumstances. We do not believe the man arrested and the child are known to each other. Officers are supporting the boy's family at hospital and our thoughts remain with them."
Zoo Response
In a social media statement, Johnson's announced that the Tropical House would remain closed until further notice "out of respect to the family." The statement added: "Our thoughts and prayers are with the boy and his family following the incident that occurred today."
Background on the Zoo
Johnson's of Old Hurst is home to over 100 animals, including lions, tigers, sloth bears, capybaras, and meerkats. The crocodiles are housed in a tropical house building within a converted cattle shed. According to the zoo's website, the crocodiles were initially kept to dispose of waste meat from the butchery but later became the foundation of the zoo. The Johnson family has cared for crocodiles for two decades, and Andy Johnson contributed to a European published dossier on crocodilian farming, welfare, and husbandry.
Community Reaction
A spokesperson for Huntingdonshire District Council expressed awareness of the serious incident and urged the public not to speculate while inquiries are ongoing. The ambulance service dispatched an ambulance, rapid response vehicle, ambulance officer vehicle, and air ambulance to the scene. A uniformed police officer remained at the site entrance on Thursday evening.
