A 30-year-old man from Norfolk has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after allegedly throwing a three-year-old boy into a crocodile enclosure at Johnsons of Old Hurst, near Huntingdon. Reports have emerged that the suspect's carers were distracted on their phones earlier in the day.
Incident Details
The incident occurred on Thursday afternoon (June 18) at the zoo. Cambridgeshire Police confirmed on Friday that the suspect had been assessed as not fit for interview and has been released on bail until 18 September.
The young boy, who is unknown to the man, remains in a critical but stable condition at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge. Police believe he was attacked by at least one crocodile after being thrown into the enclosure.
Witness Accounts
A woman in her 20s told The Sun that she saw a man of larger build with two carers who were not paying him much attention. She stated: "They were English and chatting among themselves and on their phones." The suspect reportedly has learning difficulties and was on an outing with his carers at the time.
Zoo Response
Zoo staff quickly pulled the boy from the enclosure. Tracey Johnson, wife of the zoo owner, reportedly jumped in to help rescue him. Johnsons announced on social media that the Tropical House, where the crocodiles are housed, would remain closed out of respect for the family.
Enclosure Description
Mike Annicelli, a local resident, described the enclosure as having a raised platform with the crocodiles about 15 feet below, and fencing along the walkways estimated at 4 feet high. Councillor Charlotte Lowe expressed shock, saying the incident has deeply affected locals.
