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Child attack crocodile enclosure reopens to public

Louise Parry

3 hours ago

A crocodile enclosure has reopened nine days after a boy was seriously injured when he was attacked by at least one of the reptiles.

Staff at Johnsons of Old Hurst in Cambridgeshire rescued the three-year-old after he ended up in the enclosure on 18 June.

The zoo initially closed its Tropical House “out of respect to the family”, but it posted on Facebook on Saturday, external to say the site was now “fully open”.

A 30-year-old man from Norfolk has been arrested and bailed on suspicion of attempted murder in relation to the incident.

The suspect is believed to have learning disabilities, who was not known to the child, and had been on a trip to the zoo with carers.

An aerial drone shot of the whole site showing several medium and large buildings or farm sheds, with three police cars parked in the courtyard. There are also formal gardens on the left side and lots of greenery.

Police said the boy, who was from Cambridgeshire and visiting the zoo with his family, sustained serious injuries “while in the enclosure”.

He is believed to have been attacked by at least one crocodile.

He received medical treatment at the scene before being taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge.

On Monday, police confirmed he was no longer critically ill, but was “in a stable condition in hospital.”

Chris Newman, the director of the National Centre for Reptile Welfare, told the BBC that he had spoken to the Johnson family, stating they were “all very distraught”.

He said Tracey Johnson, husband Andy and their youngest son were all involved in the rescue.

“All three were heroes… they’re a close-knit family and they’re still quite shaken by it.”

The inside of a crocodile enclosure at a zoo. There are bodies of water for the animals as well as foliage and plants. There is a walkway through the middle of the enclosure lined with fences.

The zoo is in the Cambridgeshire village of Old Hurst, north of Huntingdon, and has more than 100 animals including lions and tigers.

The fully licensed site includes a farm, cafe and butcher’s shop, which opened 20 years ago, while its crocodile house was built in 2009.

Visitors can see Nile crocodiles, broad-snouted caiman and American alligators, which are kept in a converted barn with metal-fenced, elevated walkways.

Many people praised the zoo in comments on its social media post, saying the venue was “a special place” loved by grandchildren and parents alike.

The zoo declined to comment further about the reopening.