A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a three-year-old boy ended up in a crocodile enclosure at a zoo in Cambridgeshire, police said.
Cambridgeshire police were called to Johnsons of Old Hurst zoo in Huntingdonshire at 1:24 pm on Wednesday following reports of an incident involving a young child who entered the crocodile enclosure. The boy sustained serious injuries and was taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital, where he remains in a critical but stable condition.
A 30-year-old man from Norfolk has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. Detective Inspector Verity McCann stated that the arrested man and the child are not believed to be known to each other. Police are speaking to witnesses who were at the zoo at the time to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Officials from Johnsons zoo have not yet responded to requests for comment. Ben Obese-Jecty, the MP for Huntingdon, said he has been in contact with senior officers who are treating the case as a critical incident. He urged the public to refrain from speculation online and expressed his thoughts for the young victim and his family during this traumatic time.
The zoo's website describes it as home to over 100 fascinating animals, including African lions, Bengal tigers, and crocodiles. Two of the largest crocodiles at the zoo are named Romeo and Cuddles, according to the zoo's Facebook page. On International Crocodile Day, the zoo posted that crocodilians are at the core of their history and passion, shaping the zoo into what it is today.
