The carers of a man suspected of throwing a three-year-old boy into a crocodile enclosure were reportedly distracted by their phones earlier in the day, according to a witness. The incident occurred on Thursday afternoon at Johnsons of Old Hurst, a family-run zoo in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire.
Attack Details
The young boy was thrown approximately 15 feet into the crocodile pit, breaking his arm and pelvis upon hitting the concrete. His family watched in horror as the suspect, a 30-year-old man, carried out the attack. Tracey Johnson, 55, the zoo owner's wife, jumped into the enclosure to rescue the child, who remains in critical but stable condition.
Witness Account
A mother in her 20s told The Sun: "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."
Suspect's Status
The suspect, who has hearing difficulties and is accompanied by two carers, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. Police stated he was not known to the boy and was "not fit for interview." He has since been released on bail until September. It remains unclear how many crocodiles were involved in the incident.
Zoo Response
The zoo's Tropical House exhibit, a converted cattle shed housing ancient reptiles including alligators, will remain closed this week. Among the crocodiles are Nile crocodiles named Cuddles and Romeo, each weighing 127kg. Photographs on the zoo's Instagram page display warning signs that children must be supervised at all times, stating: "These animals are real and dangerous. Children must not be carried on the shoulders." The zoo also offers a 30-minute "meet and feed our snappy crocodile" session for £80, available to those aged 16 and over, or 14- and 15-year-olds with an accompanying adult.
