Norfolk County Council has initiated a safeguarding inquiry into the care provided to a 30-year-old man who was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a three-year-old boy was thrown into a crocodile enclosure. The incident occurred on June 18 at Johnsons of Old Hurst in Cambridgeshire.
The suspect, who has a learning disability, was visiting the zoo with two carers when the child was reportedly thrown approximately 15 feet into an enclosure containing at least 15 crocodiles. He was released on bail hours after his arrest, as police determined he was unfit for interview.
According to a source familiar with the case, the suspect's two carers attempted to leave the zoo with him shortly after the boy was rescued. Another staff member reportedly intervened, preventing them from driving away. Witnesses told the Daily Mail that the carers appeared to be on their phones and were a significant distance from the suspect when he allegedly picked up the child and threw him over a security fence.
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 under care. Norfolk County Council stated that it has stopped accepting referrals from the care provider involved in the suspect's case and is reviewing all individuals receiving care from that provider to ensure quality and consistency.
Although the suspect is from Norfolk, his care was not commissioned, provided, or funded by Norfolk County Council. The investigation into his care is ongoing.
The three-year-old victim has undergone five surgeries since the incident and is expected to require two more operations. A fundraising page established to support his recovery has raised over £25,000. The boy's parents expressed gratitude for the public's support during this difficult time, noting they have been living at the hospital for two weeks.
Reports indicate the boy landed on a concrete walkway, sustaining a broken arm and pelvis, before being bitten by what is believed to be a saltwater or Nile crocodile. The zoo owners, Andy and Tracey Johnson, described the event as one of the most distressing in their business's history. They confirmed that staff members acted quickly to rescue the child, with Mrs. Johnson being the first to enter the enclosure, followed by her husband and son. Emergency services and air ambulance personnel arrived promptly to provide aid.
Johnsons zoo, which began as a dairy farm, also features a butcher's, farm shop, tea room, and steak house. The crocodiles were initially kept for waste meat disposal from the butchery before becoming a feature of the zoo, which now houses over 100 animals.