A three-year-old boy is in critical but stable condition after reportedly being thrown into a crocodile enclosure at a family zoo in Huntingdonshire.
The incident occurred at Johnson’s of Old Hurst zoo, with emergency services alerted at about 1:24 p.m. following reports that a child had ended up inside the crocodile pen.
The boy was rescued from the enclosure and rushed to Addenbrooke’s Hospital with serious injuries, where he remains under medical care. Police have arrested a 30-year-old man from Norfolk on suspicion of attempted murder, and detectives from the major crime unit have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Detective Inspector Verity McCann said officers are speaking with people who were at the zoo at the time to establish exactly what happened. “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,” she said.
McCann added that investigators do not believe the suspect and the child were known to each other. She also confirmed that officers are supporting the boy’s family at the hospital. Authorities have not disclosed the species or number of crocodiles involved in the enclosure.
Johnson’s of Old Hurst zoo houses several crocodiles alongside other exotic animals, including big cats and bears. The zoo recently marked International Crocodile Day, describing crocodilians as central to its history and development. Police investigations are ongoing.