An investigation has been launched after the hospital records of a three-year-old boy seriously injured in a crocodile attack at a zoo were accessed by up to 40 members of staff. The boy was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge following the incident at Johnsons of Old Hurst near Huntingdon, where he was thrown into a crocodile pit while visiting with his family.
Incident Details
The boy remains in a stable condition after suffering a broken arm and pelvis when he fell into the enclosure. Hero staff members rescued him from the pit. A 30-year-old man has been arrested and bailed on suspicion of attempted murder. The suspect was found unfit for interview and bailed until September 18.
Data Breach Investigation
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust confirmed they are investigating why so many staff accessed the victim’s records. The trust has referred itself to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). In a statement, the trust said: “We have strict policies in place to safeguard patient data and we take any breach extremely seriously. Where any member of staff is found to have accessed patient records without legitimate clinical or operational reasons we take robust disciplinary action, including dismissal. As part of our response to any breach, we notify both the ICO and apologise to patients and their families affected.”
Witness Accounts
A source told The Sun that the suspect has hearing difficulties and has two carers who, according to a witness, were “on their phones” when he allegedly attacked the child. A mother who was at the zoo at the time said: “I don’t know if it was definitely him but I saw one bloke of a bigger build; he had two carers with him and they weren’t paying him much attention. If it was him, his carers were maybe ten metres behind him and not paying much attention. They were English and chatting among themselves and on their phones.”
