Man arrested after boy hurt in zoo crocodile enclosure

A 30-year-old Norfolk man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a 3-year-old boy ended up in a crocodile enclosure at an eastern England zoo and was taken to hospital with serious injuries, police said.

Cambridgeshire Constabulary said the child was in a critical but stable condition at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge after the incident Thursday at Johnsons of Old Hurst, a zoo, farm shop and cafe near Huntingdon, about 20 miles northwest of Cambridge. Police said they were called to the site at 13:24 BST.

Detectives from the force’s major crime unit are investigating the circumstances. The BBC reported that police were examining whether the child was attacked by the animals. Police did not specify how the injuries were inflicted or whether they were caused by a crocodile.

“A 30-year-old man from Norfolk has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder,” police said. Officers added that they do not believe the man and child were known to each other.

Detective Inspector Verity McCann said officers were speaking to people who were at the zoo at the time.

“At this stage we are speaking to people who were at the zoo at the time of this distressing incident to understand more about the circumstances,” McCann said. “We do not believe the man arrested and the child are known to each other. Officers are supporting the boy’s family at hospital, and our thoughts remain with them.”

A spokesperson for Johnsons of Old Hurst said the site’s “thoughts and prayers” were with the boy and his family.

“Out of respect to the family, our Tropical House will remain closed until further notice,” the spokesperson said. “If you have any questions about the incident, please direct inquiries to Cambridgeshire Police Constabulary. The rest of the site will remain open as normal.”

The East of England Ambulance Service said an ambulance, a rapid response vehicle, an ambulance officer vehicle and Magpas Air Ambulance attended the scene. “A child was transported by road to hospital for further care,” a spokesperson said.

Magpas Air Ambulance said a critical care team arrived at 13:42 and “treated one patient at the scene before taking them to hospital.”

Huntingdon’s MP wrote on social media that his “thoughts were with the young victim and his family during a hugely traumatic and difficult time” and urged people to “refrain from speculation online.” He said he was liaising with senior officers at Gold Command, who were treating the case as a critical incident.

Darryl Preston, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough’s police and crime commissioner, said he had been briefed by Chief Constable Simon Megicks.

“My thoughts go out to the family of the little boy involved in this truly horrific incident,” Preston said. “I can only begin to imagine the trauma those involved are going through.”

A near neighbour, who did not want to be named, told the BBC he heard a “lot of sirens” before an air ambulance arrived and called the incident “shocking.” Another local resident, Mike Annicelli, 52, said he had previously visited the attraction and described a “raised platform” above the crocodile area, estimating the animals were about 15 feet below and the fencing along walkways was about 4 feet high.

Charlotte Lowe, who represents Old Hurst on Huntingdonshire District Council and Cambridgeshire County Council, said she was “shocked” by the incident. “To have something like this happen here is just incredible,” she said. “You don’t expect this to happen in a rural village.” She said the enclosure had safety measures in place, including Perspex glass and secure walkways.

Johnsons of Old Hurst describes itself as a family-run farming business with a butcher, farm shop, tea room, steakhouse and zoo. Its website says it houses more than 100 animals, including crocodiles, African lions and a Bengal tiger. The BBC reported that the crocodiles are kept in a converted cattle barn with metal-fenced elevated walkways overlooking large pools surrounded by tropical vegetation.