A suspect accused of throwing a three-year-old boy into a crocodile enclosure at a Cambridgeshire zoo was reportedly rushed to a car by his carers, who attempted to flee the scene after the incident. The toddler, who suffered a broken arm and pelvis after being thrown 15 feet into the pit, was left in critical condition but has since improved.
Incident at Johnsons of Old Hurst Zoo
The attack occurred at Johnsons of Old Hurst Zoo, where the boy was visiting with his mother and younger sibling. The zoo owner, Tracey Johnson, jumped into the crocodile enclosure to rescue the child from further harm. The enclosure contained 15 crocodiles. The boy was rushed to Addenbrooke’s Hospital and left critical condition on Monday.
Carers Attempt to Leave
A source told The Telegraph that after the boy was thrown into the enclosure, the suspect's carers took him to the zoo car park and tried to put him in a car to leave. However, another staff member prevented them from departing. The source said: “They tried to get him into the car,” but “another member of staff was there and prevented them from leaving.”
Witnesses reported that the carers were not paying close attention to the suspect. A mother in her 20s said: “Someone later described the man that did it and said he was with carers. I don’t know if it was definitely him but I saw one bloke of a bigger build, he had two carers with him and they weren’t paying him much attention. They were English and chatting among themselves and on their phone.”
Police Investigation
Police arrested a 30-year-old man on suspicion of attempted murder but later released him on bail until September 18. Police stated the suspect was not “fit for interview” due to learning difficulties. The suspect's carers are also under investigation.
Expert Commentary
Chris Newman, 67, director of the National Centre for Reptile Welfare, explained that biting is a crocodile's natural reflex. He said: “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 Johnson, 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.”
