A three-year-old boy who sustained serious injuries after ending up in a crocodile enclosure at a Cambridgeshire zoo is now in a stable condition, according to police. Cambridgeshire Police confirmed the boy's condition is no longer critical following the incident last Thursday afternoon at Johnsons of Old Hurst.
Officers were called to the zoo at approximately 13:34 BST on Thursday. The boy, from Cambridgeshire, was visiting the attraction with his family when he was injured while inside the enclosure. Zoo staff, along with the boy's mother Tracey, father Andy, and youngest son Edward, were instrumental in pulling him to safety. He received immediate medical attention at the scene before being transported to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge.
Chris Newman, director of the National Centre for Reptile Welfare, spoke to the BBC, stating the Johnson family was "all very distraught" and that Tracey, Andy, and Edward were "heroes" in the rescue efforts. He added that the family remains "quite shaken" by the events.
In connection with the incident, a 30-year-old man from Norfolk has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and subsequently released on bail until 18 September. Police indicated that the suspect is believed to have learning disabilities and was on a trip to the zoo with carers. He was assessed as "not being fit for interview" at the time of his arrest, a common consideration based on an individual's physical or mental state. Authorities have confirmed that the crocodiles involved were not seized or harmed.
Johnsons of Old Hurst, located in the Cambridgeshire village of Old Hurst, is a fully licensed site that includes a farm, cafe, and butcher's shop, which opened two decades ago. Its crocodile house was established in 2009. The zoo houses over 100 animals, including larger species such as lions and tigers.