The crocodile enclosure at Johnsons of Old Hurst zoo in Huntingdon has reopened to the public, nine days after a three-year-old boy was allegedly thrown into the pit and attacked by at least one crocodile. The zoo confirmed via a social media announcement on June 27 that its "whole site will be fully open" as of the weekend, including the crocodile attraction.
Zoo Confirms Full Reopening
A spokesperson for the zoo told the Press Association that the crocodile enclosure is now accessible to visitors. The Tropical House, which houses the enclosure, had been closed since the incident on June 18. Zoo visitors expressed relief on Instagram, with one commenting: "Brilliant, and well done to all involved with the recent event."
Incident Details
The boy, from Cambridgeshire, suffered serious injuries after being allegedly thrown into the enclosure and attacked by at least one crocodile, according to the Daily Star. He was taken to hospital in critical condition but is now stable. A 30-year-old man from Norfolk was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder but was released on bail after being assessed as unfit for interview, Cambridgeshire Police said. The suspect reportedly has learning difficulties and was on an outing with carers at the time.
The boy was rescued by Tracey Johnson, wife of the zoo owner, who jumped into the pit to save him.
Investigation into Medical Records Access
Separately, Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) has launched an investigation after approximately 40 hospital staff accessed the boy's medical records. CUH has referred itself to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) and is examining whether all staff members had legitimate grounds for accessing his information.
