Three-Year-Old Boy Critically Injured by Crocodile at Cambridgeshire Zoo; Man Bailed
A three-year-old boy is in a critical but stable condition following a crocodile attack at Johnsons of Old Hurst, a zoo near Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire.
Cambridgeshire Police confirmed the boy was injured by at least one crocodile after entering the enclosure on Thursday. Zoo staff pulled the child out, who then received medical attention at the scene before being transported to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge.
A 30-year-old man from Norfolk, arrested on suspicion of attempted murder in connection with the incident, has been bailed. Police stated he was deemed "unfit for interview" and confirmed the boy and the arrested man are not believed to be known to each other.
Police Investigation Underway
Detective Inspector Verity McCann stated that enquiries are ongoing to understand the circumstances of this distressing incident, with specialist officers supporting the boy and his family. The police are working to establish how long the boy was inside the enclosure. The crocodiles involved have not been seized or killed.
Johnsons of Old Hurst, a family-run business that expanded to include a zoo with over 100 animals, including crocodiles, lions, and a Bengal tiger, has closed its Tropical House out of respect for the family. Crocodiles first arrived at the farm in 2006, housed in a converted cattle barn with elevated walkways.
Huntingdon MP Ben Obese-Jecty urged the public to refrain from online speculation, noting that police are treating it as a "critical incident."
