A 30-year-old man from Norfolk has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a three-year-old boy sustained serious injuries in a crocodile enclosure at Johnsons of Old Hurst zoo in Cambridgeshire. Police were called at 1.24pm on Thursday following reports of the incident, which left the boy in a critical but stable condition at Addenbrooke's Hospital.
Detective Inspector Verity McCann stated that the arrested man and the child are not believed to be known to each other. The investigation is ongoing, with police speaking to witnesses to determine the circumstances. Reports suggest the child may have been thrown into the enclosure, and it is unclear whether the injuries were caused by the animals.
A local villager reported that the zoo owner's wife, Tracey Johnson, jumped into the enclosure to rescue the child. Ben Obese-Jecty, the MP for Huntingdon, confirmed he was liaising with senior officers, who are treating the incident as critical. He urged the public to refrain from speculation online.
The zoo released a statement expressing their thoughts and prayers for the boy and his family, and announced the closure of their tropical house until further notice. Witness Pete Lewis described seeing the boy being carried out, with staff and members of the public having entered the enclosure to rescue him.
The East of England Ambulance Service dispatched multiple resources, including an air ambulance, and the child was transported to hospital by road. Cambridgeshire County Council declined to comment further due to the ongoing police investigation.
