The family of a three-year-old boy who was seriously injured after being allegedly thrown into a crocodile enclosure at Johnsons of Old Hurst zoo in Cambridgeshire on June 18 have provided a major update on his condition, saying they are “amazed at how far he has come.”
Seven Surgeries and a Nerve Graft
In an update shared on a fundraising page on Wednesday, the boy’s family revealed that he has undergone seven operations in hospital, including a nerve graft on his left arm. The nerve was harvested from his leg to replace the missing portion in his arm. The family noted that it will take several months to determine if the graft is successful.
“Today our son had his seventh surgery. In that surgery the surgeons completed a nerve graft on his left arm. They harvested a nerve from his leg to replace part of the nerve that was missing in his left arm,” the family wrote on the GoFundMe page. “Over time, this nerve will hopefully embed and help our son to regain some function in his left hand. We won’t know whether the nerve graft has been successful until tests can be carried out in a few months’ time.”
12-Hour Emergency Surgery
The family also disclosed that the toddler underwent a 12-hour operation immediately after being admitted to hospital on the day of the incident. “Shortly after we arrived, our son underwent a 12-hour surgery where the surgeons performed miraculous things. They were faced with tendon damage, nerve damage, blood vessel damage, broken bones and severe tissue damage in both his arms, neck, head and face,” the post said. “Those were the worst 12 hours of our lives as before that we were signing consent forms involving resuscitation and amputation. We were unsure if our son was going to make it and that was the worst feeling in the world.”
Recovery Progress
Despite the severity of his injuries, the boy is now “talking to the nurses, playing using his feet and smiling again,” according to his family. The update, written by the boy’s grandmother, explained that his parents remain at his side in a Cambridge hospital. “Four weeks later and the cheeky little boy that we love so much is talking to the nurses, playing using his feet and smiling again. We are amazed at how far he has come,” the family said.
The family expressed hope that the most recent surgery “will be the last for now which means if everything goes well we will be able to go home soon.” However, they acknowledged that challenges lie ahead: “Once home, we face new challenges shaped by his recovery and rehabilitation physically and psychologically. Both of us are taking time off work temporarily to support our son during his rehabilitation. We don’t know what recovery and rehabilitation looks like at this moment in time but we know our son needs us more than ever.”
Incident and Investigation
The incident occurred on June 18 at Johnsons of Old Hurst zoo, near Huntingdon. The zoo confirmed in a social media post that it was “alerted to reports that a child had allegedly been thrown into one of our crocodile enclosures.” A 30-year-old man from Norfolk was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and later bailed after police determined he was “assessed as not being fit for interview.” The suspect reportedly has learning difficulties and had been on a trip with carers. An investigation into his care has been launched.
Community Support
A fundraising campaign set up to support the family financially and aid the boy’s recovery has raised more than £68,000 to date. The family expressed gratitude for the donations and well-wishes, saying they are “forever grateful.”
