A THREE-year-old boy has been thrown into a crocodile enclosure at a UK zoo with a 30-year-old man arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
The child was raced to hospital with serious injuries and is said to be in a critical but stable condition.
Officers scrambled to Johnsons of Old Hurst in Huntington just before 1.30pm today following reports of a child in the crocodile enclosure.
He was rushed to Addenbrooke’s Hospital and police are treating it as a “critical incident”.
Det Insp Verity McCann said: “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.
“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.”
Local MP Ben Obese-Jecty added: “I am aware of the incident at Johnson’s of Old Hurst and have been liaising with senior officers at Gold Command who are treating this as a critical incident.
“This is now a live criminal investigation and I would ask people to refrain from speculation online. The police will provide an update with further information in due course.”
“My thoughts are with the young victim and his family during a hugely traumatic and difficult time.”
Johnson’s Zoo in Cambridgeshire is a popular family attraction.
Their website boasts that they are home to more than a hundred “fascinating animals, from majestic lions and bengal tigers to incredible crocodiles”.
The Johnson family farm turned into a zoo after Andy Johnson fell in love with alligators on a trip to Florida.
He runs the farm with his wife Tracey and sons George and Edward.
He adopted several animals from a private collector and now has a collection of crocodiles and alligators which he uses for waste meat disposal.
The reptiles are housed in an old cattle shed and Andy previously said he hopes to be fed to the crocs when he dies.
The zoo featured on an episode of ITV‘s Britain’s Tiger Kings with Ross Kemp.
