The three-year-old boy had barely hit the water before Tracey Johnson was over the barrier. Within seconds, the co-owner of Johnson’s of Old Hurst Zoo had dropped 15 feet into the crocodile enclosure, landing beside a toddler who had allegedly been thrown in by a stranger. The boy, now in a critical but stable condition at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, suffered a broken arm and pelvis, according to reports. Johnson, who has just become a grandmother, pulled him to safety as horrified visitors looked on.
Cambridgeshire Police were called at 1.24pm on Thursday after reports that a child had “ended up in the crocodile enclosure”. Officers arrested a 30-year-old man from Norfolk on suspicion of attempted murder, but he was later released on bail after being deemed “not fit for interview”. The suspect, who is not known to the youngster, has been bailed until September 18. “Our enquiries are ongoing as we continue to understand the circumstances surrounding this distressing incident,” said Det Insp Verity McCann. “Our thoughts remain with the boy and his family.”
“Zookeeper Tracey Johnson jumped 15ft into a crocodile pit to save a three-year-old boy allegedly thrown in by a stranger.”
The 15-foot drop into the crocodile pen, located in the zoo’s Tropical House beneath a high public walkway, required extraordinary nerve. Chris Newman, director of the National Centre for Reptile Welfare, who has worked inside that enclosure, said: “I know Tracey very well – she is absolutely a lovely lady, and I think we should recognise her actions as being incredibly heroic. But frankly, it’s nothing short of what I would expect of her; she is a very brave, very strong lady.” Eyewitness Pete Lewis told The Telegraph that quick-thinking staff had likely saved the child’s life.
Tracey Johnson runs the family-owned zoo alongside her husband Andy. In 2019, when the zoo opened its new reptile house, Andy Johnson told Cambridgeshire Live: “It’s just amazing for people to be able to look down on the animals with no barriers.” Local councillor Charlotte Lowe said she “can’t fathom” how the boy ended up inside the enclosure, adding: “They’ve got all the right protection and safety equipment… this incident – I think it’s shocked an awful lot of people.” Mike Annicelli, 52, who lives nearby, said he had felt safe visiting the zoo.
The zoo has confirmed that Tropical House will remain closed “out of respect” for the boy’s family. In a statement, they said: “Our thoughts and prayers are with the boy and his family.” Specialist officers are supporting the family at the hospital.