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Toddler in Croc Pen
A three-year-old boy was critically injured after ending up in the crocodile enclosure at Johnsons of Old Hurst, a zoo, farm shop and cafe in eastern England, and police arrested a 30-year-old man on suspicion of attempted murder.
Cambridgeshire Constabulary said the toddler was in a "critical but stable" condition at Addenbrooke's Hospital in nearby Cambridge after sustaining "serious injuries," and it did not specify how the injuries were inflicted.
The incident drew an immediate police response, with officers called to Johnsons of Old Hurst Zoo in Huntingdonshire at 1.24pm on Thursday over "reports of an incident involving a three-year-old boy, during which he ended up in the crocodile enclosure".
The BBC reported that the boy was attacked on Thursday by at least one crocodile after ending up in their enclosure, and that he was pulled out by zoo staff and received medical treatment at the scene before being taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital.
Bail, Investigation, and Dispute
Police said the 30-year-old man from Norfolk was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and was later assessed as "unfit for interview" before being bailed, while Cambridgeshire police continued to investigate whether the child was attacked by the animals.
Detective Inspector Verity McCann told reporters, "At this stage we are speaking to people who were at the zoo at the time of this distressing incident to understand more about the circumstances," as the BBC said officers were working to establish how long the boy was in the enclosure.
The BBC also reported that the crocodiles had not been seized or killed, while the BBC said it was believed the boy was attacked by at least one crocodile after ending up in their enclosure.
In a separate account, News.au said several media reports claimed the child was "thrown" into the enclosure but that this had not been confirmed, even as it described the incident as an attack by at least one crocodile before the boy was pulled from the enclosure by zoo staff.
Local Licensing and What’s Next
The incident prompted statements and continued scrutiny around the zoo’s operations, with Johnsons of Old Hurst saying, "Our thoughts and prayers are with the boy and his family following the incident that occurred today," and adding that its Tropical House would remain closed until further notice.
Cambridgeshire county council said, "as this is a live police investigation, we cannot comment any further," while the BBC reported that Huntingdonshire District Council said Johnsons was "fully licensed" and that its licence was renewed in 2024 following the statutory inspection and approval process.
The BBC said the council was "not aware of any previous reportable accidents or incidents involving the crocodile enclosure" and that no other safety-related incidents had been recorded through the zoo licensing process.
As the case moved forward, the BBC quoted Det Insp Verity McCann saying, "Our inquiries are ongoing as we continue to understand the circumstances surrounding this distressing incident," with the man arrested remaining on bail until September 18.
