Visitors to Johnson's of Old Hurst have praised the 'heroic' response of staff who rescued a three-year-old boy after he was allegedly thrown into a crocodile enclosure. The incident occurred on June 18, leaving the toddler seriously injured and requiring hospitalisation.
Incident Details and Immediate Response
The boy remains in a stable condition at Addenbrooke's Hospital, with reports indicating he faces a 'lengthy road to recovery'. The distressing event took place at the zoo near Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, prompting a swift response from staff and emergency services.
Andy and Tracey Johnson, who operate the zoo, released a statement on Thursday, July 2, describing the past two weeks as an 'incredibly difficult time'. They detailed that within minutes of the first radio call, the child had been rescued from the enclosure and was receiving first aid.
Owner's Statement and Gratitude
The statement read: 'A fortnight ago, our family and team at Johnsons of Old Hurst experienced one of the most distressing incidents in our history. We were alerted to reports that a child had allegedly been thrown into one of our crocodile enclosures in the Tropical House.'
'Everyone who was on site that day acted with incredible speed and determination. Within minutes of the first radio call, the child had been rescued from the enclosure and was receiving first aid.'
The Johnsons thanked emergency services, including the MAGPAS Air Ambulance, and off-duty paramedics and police officers who were among the visitors. They added: 'We are immensely proud of our own staff, who responded without hesitation and did everything they could to help and support the child until the emergency services took over.'
Community Support and Public Reaction
The statement concluded with gratitude for the overwhelming support from the local community and across the country. Many zoo visitors expressed their admiration online, with one nominating the staff for a Pride of Britain Award. Another visitor commented: 'We have visited your beautiful zoo on a few occasions and will continue to do so. I’m so sorry your family and staff had to witness and deal with horrific incident.'
A third supporter said: 'God bless you all. Well done. My granddaughter loves the zoo so we will be back soon.' The flood of support underscores the impact of the staff's quick thinking and bravery.
Police Investigation
Cambridgeshire Police arrested a 30-year-old man from Norfolk on suspicion of attempted murder following the incident. The man, who was not known to the victim, was assessed as 'not being fit for interview' and has been bailed until September 18. The investigation continues as the boy recovers.
