The crocodile pit where a three-year-old boy was seriously injured after being allegedly thrown in by a man has reopened to the public, nine days after the attack. Johnsons of Old Hurst, a zoo near Huntingdon, confirmed its entire site – including the crocodile attraction – was fully open from the weekend, with a post on June 27 stating: “Public announcement. As of this weekend, our whole site will be fully open, thank you.”
The toddler sustained “serious injuries” when at least one reptile attacked him inside the 15ft-deep enclosure. He was saved by the zoo owner’s wife, Tracey, who jumped in to rescue him. Chris Newman, director of the National Centre for Reptile Welfare, told the BBC that Tracey’s husband Andy and their youngest son Edward were also involved in the rescue.
“Crocodile enclosure reopens nine days after toddler seriously injured in attack at Johnsons of Old Hurst zoo.”
The incident unfolded when a “mentally disabled” man, who had broken away from his carers, allegedly threw the child into the pit. Police arrested him on suspicion of attempted murder, but he was released on bail after being deemed “not fit for interview”. He is due to answer bail on September 18.
A mother who was at the zoo at the time told Metro: “I don’t know if it was definitely him but I saw one bloke of a bigger build; he had two carers with him and they weren’t paying him much attention. … They were English and chatting among themselves and on their phones.” The suspect reportedly has hearing difficulties and was accompanied by two carers.
Separately, Cambridge University Hospitals launched an investigation after up to 40 staff accessed the boy’s medical details at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, where he was taken for treatment. The trust said it was exploring why so many people viewed the victim’s records and has referred itself to the Information Commissioner’s Office.
The zoo’s swift reopening has raised questions among visitors, but the family-run attraction has offered no further comment beyond its public announcement.