Incident and Investigation
A 30-year-old man arrested on suspicion of attempted murder following a critical injury to a three-year-old boy in a crocodile enclosure at a zoo has been released on bail. Cambridgeshire Police stated that the man was deemed unfit for a police interview and has been bailed until September.
The incident occurred on Thursday at Johnsons of Old Hurst, near Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire. The boy remains in a critical but stable condition in hospital after sustaining serious injuries while inside the crocodile enclosure. Zoo staff intervened promptly to remove the child from the enclosure and provided medical treatment at the scene before emergency services transported him to hospital.
The boy was admitted to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge for further care.
"Our enquiries are ongoing as we continue to understand the circumstances surrounding this distressing incident.
Our thoughts remain with the boy, and his family and specialist officers continue to support them through this difficult time."
These remarks were made by Detective Inspector Verity McCann, who is overseeing the investigation.
Zoo Response and Site Details
Johnsons issued a statement on Thursday expressing their thoughts and prayers for the boy and his family. The zoo's Tropical House, which contains the crocodile enclosure, was closed temporarily "out of respect to the family." Staff were observed arriving at the site earlier, with the zoo scheduled to open at 10:00.
The crocodiles have been housed at the family-run farm since 2006. They reside in a converted cattle barn featuring metal-fenced elevated walkways overlooking large pools of water surrounded by tropical vegetation.
Plans were in place to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the first farm shop with the opening of a new museum and a special weekend event starting on Saturday. It remains unclear whether these events will proceed following the incident.
Police and Community Statements
Police confirmed they are interviewing witnesses who were present at the zoo during the incident. A spokesperson stated, "We do not believe the man arrested and the child are known to each other."
Huntingdon Member of Parliament Ben Obese-Jecty urged the public to "refrain from speculation online" and emphasized that police are treating the situation as a "critical incident."
Magpas Air Ambulance reported that a critical care team attended the scene at 13:42, treated one patient, and then transported them to hospital.
About Johnsons of Old Hurst
According to its website, Johnsons of Old Hurst is a farming business that includes a butchers, farm shop, tea room, steakhouse, and zoo. The site houses over 100 animals, including crocodiles, African lions, and a Bengal tiger.
