A 30-year-old man who allegedly threw a three-year-old boy into a crocodile enclosure at Johnsons of Old Hurst zoo was reportedly escorted away from the scene by his carers. The suspect, who is disabled, had attended the zoo with his carers and was later arrested on suspicion of attempted murder but bailed within hours after being deemed unfit for interview.
Carers Attempted to Remove Suspect
A source with knowledge of the case told the Daily Mail that the carers tried to take the suspect off the premises shortly after the incident. The unnamed source said: "They [the carers] tried to get him into the car. Another member of staff was there and prevented them from leaving." Staff at the zoo stood in the way of the carers and the 30-year-old man, who is believed to have thrown the toddler onto the concrete below.
Child's Injuries and Recovery
The three-year-old boy suffered a shattered arm and pelvis after landing on concrete and being bitten by at least one saltwater crocodile — the animal with the world's strongest bite. He was hospitalised in critical condition but has since improved. A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Police said: "The boy is no longer critical and is in a stable condition in hospital." The child remains at Addenbrooke's Hospital.
Zoo Staff Rescue
Tracey Johnson, her husband Andrew, and their son Edward, who run the zoo and farm, jumped into the enclosure to save the child after he was bitten. Tracey, 55, was the first to attend, followed by Andrew, 56, and then Edward, 29. They managed to get the toddler away from the crocodile and remove him from the enclosure. Cambridgeshire Police stated: "The boy, who sustained serious injuries while in the [crocodile] enclosure, was pulled out by staff from the zoo and received medical treatment at the scene before being taken to hospital."
Police Investigation
A 30-year-old man from Norfolk was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder but released on bail. Detectives from the major crime unit are conducting further inquiries. The man, who is not known to the victim, was assessed as not being fit for interview. The incident occurred last Thursday at Johnsons of Old Hurst zoo in Cambridgeshire.
