Man Arrested for Attempted Murder After Three-Year-Old Ends Up in Crocodile Enclosure at Johnsons of Old Hurst Zoo

A man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a three-year-old boy ended up in the crocodile enclosure at Johnsons of Old Hurst zoo in Huntingdonshire, near Huntingdon, and the child was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge with serious injuries.

Cambridgeshire police said officers were called to Johnsons of Old Hurst 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”.

ABC News

The force said the boy was in a “critical but stable” condition, and it was investigating whether the child was attacked by the animals.

CBS News reported that Cambridgeshire Constabulary said the toddler had sustained “serious injuries” and was in a “critical but stable” condition at Addenbrooke’s Hospital.

Police also said a 30-year-old man from Norfolk was arrested and that detectives from its major crime unit were investigating the incident at the zoo, farm shop and cafe around 20 miles northwest of Cambridge.

Detective Inspector Verity McCann said, “We do not believe the man arrested and the child are known to each other,” as Cambridgeshire police continued to speak to people at the zoo to understand the circumstances.

Ben Obese-Jecty, the MP for Huntingdon, said the case was “a live criminal investigation” and asked people to “refrain from speculation online,” while adding that his “thoughts are with the young victim and his family”.

BBC

The BBC reported that Cambridgeshire Police said it was investigating whether the child was attacked by the animals, and it quoted the same Detective Inspector Verity McCann line about the man and child not being known to each other.

The Guardian also reported that a villager told the Press Association that Tracey Johnson jumped into the enclosure to try to save the child, and it said the Times reported the child was allegedly thrown into the zoo’s enclosure.

In its statement, Johnsons said, “Out of respect to the family, our Tropical House will remain closed until further notice,” while the rest of the site would remain open as normal.

The incident prompted immediate changes at Johnsons of Old Hurst, with the zoo saying its Tropical House would remain closed until further notice “out of respect to the family,” while the rest of the site remained open as normal.

“Man arrested after boy injured in zoo crocodile enclosure A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a three-year-old boy was left with critical injuries after ending up in a zoo's crocodile enclosure”

BBC

ITV News Anglia reported that an ambulance, a rapid response vehicle, an ambulance officer vehicle and Magpas Air Ambulance attended the scene, and it said a child was transported by road to hospital for further care.

A spokesperson for the East of England Ambulance Service said a child was transported by road to hospital for further care, and the BBC added that a Magpas Air Ambulance spokesperson said a critical care team attended the incident at 13:42.

Local councillor Charlotte Lowe said she was “shocked” and described the enclosure safety measures as including Perspex glass and secure walkways, while also saying, “To have something like this happen here is just incredulous”.

The Guardian described the zoo as home to “over 100 fascinating animals” including crocodiles, and it said the zoo’s two largest crocodiles are called Romeo and Cuddles, as police continued investigating how the boy ended up in the enclosure.