Andy and Tracey Johnson, the owners of Johnsons of Old Hurst zoo near Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, have issued a statement following the alleged attack on a three-year-old boy who was thrown into a crocodile enclosure on June 18. The couple described the incident as "one of the most distressing" their family and staff had ever experienced.
Incident Details
The boy was allegedly hurled approximately 15 feet into the crocodile enclosure inside the zoo's Tropical House. He sustained a broken arm and a fractured pelvis after landing on a concrete walkway before ending up in the water. He remains at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge with serious injuries, facing a lengthy recovery.
In a statement posted on social media, Andy and Tracey Johnson said: "A fortnight ago, our family and team at Johnsons of Old Hurst experienced one of the most distressing incidents in our history. We were alerted to reports that a child had allegedly been thrown into one of our crocodile enclosures in the Tropical House."
Response and Gratitude
The couple praised the rapid response of emergency services, visitors, and staff. "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," they said. They thanked the MAGPAS Air Ambulance, off-duty paramedics, and police officers who helped.
"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 added. They also acknowledged the overwhelming kindness from the local community and people across the country.
Police Investigation
Cambridgeshire Police confirmed the toddler is in a stable condition but faces a challenging rehabilitation. A 30-year-old man from Norfolk was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and released on bail until September 18. The man has no known connection to the victim and was reportedly deemed unfit for interview at the time.
The zoo's Tropical House reopened to visitors on June 27, nine days after the incident, following a closure "out of respect to the family."
