Boy Critically Injured in Crocodile Attack at Cambridgeshire Zoo
Quick Look
- A three-year-old boy is in critical but stable condition after a crocodile attack at Johnsons of Old Hurst zoo in Cambridgeshire.
- A man arrested in connection with the incident has been bailed.
- Police are investigating the circumstances.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
A three-year-old boy was critically injured in a crocodile attack at Johnsons of Old Hurst zoo. A man arrested in connection with the incident has been bailed by police.
A three-year-old boy critically injured in a zoo enclosure was attacked by a crocodile, police have confirmed.
Cambridgeshire Police said a 30-year-old man arrested on suspicion of attempted murder following the incident had now been bailed and was "unfit for interview".
The boy was attacked by at least one crocodile after ending up in the enclosure, the BBC understands.
He remains in a critical but stable condition after being injured at Johnsons of Old Hurst, near Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, on Thursday.
Police said the boy sustained serious injuries "while in the enclosure" and was pulled out by zoo staff.
He received medical treatment at the scene before being taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge.
Det Insp Verity McCann said: "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."
The man who was arrested was from Norfolk, police said.
A spokesperson for Johnsons said on Thursday its thoughts and prayers were with the boy and his family.
They added the site's Tropical House, which contains the crocodile enclosure, had been closed "out of respect to the family".
Zoo staff were seen arriving at the site earlier and it is due to open at 10:00.
They are kept in a converted cattle barn, which has metal-fenced elevated walkways looking down on large pools of water surrounded by tropical vegetation.
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the first farm shop, a new museum at the site was due to open with a special weekend event starting on Saturday. It is unclear if the opening will go ahead.
On Thursday, police said they were speaking to people who were at the zoo at the time of the incident.
"We do not believe the man arrested and the child are known to each other," a police spokesperson said.
Huntingdon MP Ben Obese-Jecty urged people to "refrain from speculation online" and said police were treating it as a "critical incident".
A Magpas Air Ambulance spokesperson said a critical care team attended the incident at 13:42 and "treated one patient at the scene before taking them to hospital".
Open Questions
- How did the boy end up in the enclosure?
- What led to the man's arrest and subsequent bail?
