Norfolk County Council has initiated a safeguarding inquiry into the care of a 30-year-old man arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a three-year-old boy was thrown into a crocodile pit at Johnsons of Old Hurst zoo in Cambridgeshire. The man, who has a learning disability, was visiting the zoo with two carers when the incident occurred on June 18.
Police released the suspect on bail hours after his arrest, deeming him unfit for an interview. A source familiar with the case indicated that the suspect's carers attempted to leave the zoo with him shortly after the zoo's owners intervened to rescue the child. Witnesses reportedly told the Daily Mail that the carers were distracted by their phones and were a significant distance from the suspect when he allegedly lifted the boy over a security fence and into the enclosure containing at least 15 crocodiles.
The safeguarding inquiry, conducted under Section 42 of the relevant legislation, aims to determine if the man was at risk of, or experiencing, abuse or neglect while receiving care. Norfolk County Council stated that it has halted new referrals to the care provider involved in the suspect's case and is reviewing the quality of care for all individuals receiving services from that provider. While the suspect is from Norfolk, his care was reportedly not commissioned, provided, or funded by the county council.
The young victim sustained severe injuries, including a broken arm and pelvis, after reportedly landing on a concrete walkway within the enclosure. He was subsequently bitten by what is believed to be a saltwater or Nile crocodile. The child has undergone five surgeries since the incident and is scheduled for at least two more. A fundraising page established to support his recovery has raised over £25,000.
Zoo owners Andy and Tracey Johnson described the event as one of the most distressing in their business's history. Mrs. Johnson was the first to enter the enclosure, followed by her husband and their son, to rescue the child. The couple praised the swift actions of staff and emergency services, including the MAGPAS Air Ambulance, who provided immediate first aid and support.
Johnsons of Old Hurst began as a dairy farm and has since expanded to include a zoo with over 100 animals, alongside a butcher's shop, farm shop, tea room, and steak house. The crocodiles were initially kept for waste meat disposal from the butchery before becoming a central feature of the zoo's animal collection.