A three-year-old boy remains in critical but stable condition after being attacked by a crocodile inside an enclosure at Johnsons of Old Hurst in Cambridgeshire, England.
The incident occurred on Thursday afternoon when the child somehow entered a crocodile enclosure within the zoo’s Tropical House attraction. According to police, the boy suffered serious injuries while inside the enclosure and was rescued by zoo staff before receiving emergency medical treatment at the scene and being transported to hospital.
Authorities have launched an investigation into how the child gained access to the enclosure and how long he remained inside before being rescued.
Cambridgeshire Police arrested a 30-year-old man from Norfolk on suspicion of attempted murder. However, the man has since been released on bail and was deemed unfit for interview. Reports indicate he has learning disabilities and had been visiting the zoo with carers, although police have not publicly detailed his alleged connection to the incident.
Detective Inspector Verity McCann said investigators are continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding the attack while supporting the child’s family.
Witnesses reported hearing screams before seeing emergency responders, including an air ambulance, arrive at the scene. One visitor said she had seen a man accompanied by two women believed to be carers shortly before the incident near the reptile area.
The zoo’s Tropical House, where the crocodiles are housed, was closed immediately following the incident, although the remainder of the facility reopened the next day. The enclosure contains several crocodilian species, including Nile crocodiles, broad-snouted caimans, and American alligators.
According to local authorities, the zoo is fully licensed and passed its most recent statutory inspection in 2024. Huntingdonshire District Council stated it is unaware of any previous reportable accidents involving the crocodile enclosure and that no safety-related incidents had been recorded through the zoo licensing process.
Animal welfare expert Chris Newman praised zoo owner Tracey Johnson for what he described as “remarkable bravery” after she reportedly entered the enclosure to rescue the child. He said she placed herself in significant danger while pulling the boy to safety and was not injured during the rescue.
Police have confirmed that none of the crocodiles involved have been removed or euthanized, and the investigation remains ongoing.