The family of a three-year-old boy who was seriously injured after being allegedly thrown into a crocodile enclosure at a zoo in Cambridgeshire has reported that their son has undergone five surgeries. A GoFundMe campaign set up by the family has raised more than £40,000 to support their expenses and his recovery.
Incident at Johnsons of Old Hurst
The incident occurred on June 18 at Johnsons of Old Hurst near Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire. The boy suffered serious injuries after a 15-foot drop into the crocodile enclosure. Cambridgeshire Police were called at 1:24 PM after the ambulance service alerted them. According to police, the boy “sustained serious injuries while in the enclosure” and was “pulled out by staff from the zoo.”
The boy remains hospitalized with a broken arm and a fractured pelvis, sustained when he landed on a concrete walkway before falling into the water. The zoo’s owners, Andy and Tracey Johnson, described the event as “one of the most distressing” their family and staff had ever experienced. Tracey Johnson was the first to enter the enclosure to rescue the boy.
Family's Heartbreaking Update
In an update on their GoFundMe page, the boy’s family wrote: “We are extremely grateful for everyone’s generosity. We could never thank you enough for the support you have given our family in this horrible time.” They added, “We have been living at the hospital for two weeks now and our son has undergone five surgeries.”
The family noted that at least two more surgeries are required, and the past two weeks have been “a very uncertain and unsettling time.” They stated, “His rehabilitation journey is uncertain but we do know that it won’t be a short process. The money that has been donated so far has been used to pay for our expenses. We are both currently away from work and the time in which this will need to be the case is unknown.”
The family plans to use further donations to support their son’s rehabilitation and to give back to the hospital that has helped them.
Suspect and Investigation
A 30-year-old man from Norfolk was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder following the incident. He was later bailed after police said he was “assessed as not being fit for interview.” Reports indicate the suspect has learning difficulties and was on a trip with carers at the time.
Police confirmed the boy remains at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge in a “stable condition,” having been “injured by a crocodile” after entering the enclosure.
Zoo Owners' Response
On Friday, the zoo owners praised the “incredible speed and determination” of those who helped the child. In a social media post, Johnsons of Old Hurst said they were “alerted to reports that a child had allegedly been thrown into one of our crocodile enclosures” on June 18. “Everyone who was on site that day acted with incredible speed and determination. Within minutes of the first radio call, the child had been rescued from the enclosure and was receiving first aid. The emergency services arrived very quickly, supported by the MAGPAS Air Ambulance, and we cannot thank them enough for their professionalism, compassion and dedication in such difficult circumstances.”
The zoo also expressed “heartfelt thanks to the visitors who stepped forward to help, including off-duty paramedics and police officers,” noting that their “calm and immediate actions made a real difference.” They added, “We are immensely proud of our own staff, who responded without hesitation and did everything they could to help and support the child until the emergency services took over.”
The Johnsons concluded: “Above all, our thoughts remain with the young boy and his family. We continue to hope and pray for his speedy recovery, and ask that they are given the privacy, compassion and support they need at this time.”
Community Support
The family’s fundraising page, titled “Helping the family of 3yr old injured in crocodile enclosure,” has raised over £40,000. The family expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support, stating, “The kindness we have received from our local community and from people across the country has been overwhelming.”
