Police arrested a 30-year-old man after the child entered the enclosure at Johnsons of Old Hurst.
HUNTINGDON, England — A 3-year-old boy was seriously injured Wednesday after he ended up inside a crocodile enclosure at Johnsons of Old Hurst zoo in Cambridgeshire, where police arrested a 30-year-old man on suspicion of attempted murder.
The boy was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in critical but stable condition after the incident, which police said happened at about 1:24 p.m. at the family-run zoo near Huntingdon. Cambridgeshire police said the man, from Norfolk, was not believed to be known to the child.
Investigators are examining how the child got into the enclosure and whether he was intentionally thrown in. Police said the case is being treated as a serious criminal investigation, and officers have been speaking with witnesses who were at the zoo when the emergency unfolded.
Witnesses described panic inside the zoo’s Tropical House as staff and visitors rushed to help. Reports said Tracey Johnson, the zoo owner’s wife, entered the enclosure to help rescue the child. Emergency crews responded quickly, and the boy was transported to the hospital with serious injuries.
Johnsons of Old Hurst said its Tropical House would remain closed out of respect for the child and his family. The rest of the zoo stayed open as police continued their inquiry. The zoo, which houses reptiles and other animals, is a well-known local attraction in Cambridgeshire.
Local officials urged the public not to speculate while the criminal case remains active. Ben Obese-Jecty, the member of Parliament for Huntingdon, said people should allow police to complete their work before drawing conclusions about what happened.
No charges had been announced beyond the arrest as of Thursday. Police said the investigation remains active, with witness statements, scene evidence and zoo records expected to form part of the case.
The boy remained hospitalized in critical but stable condition Thursday, and the suspect remained in custody as investigators worked to establish the full timeline of the incident.