The owners of a zoo where a three-year-old boy was seriously injured in a crocodile enclosure have described the event as "one of the most distressing incidents in our history."
The boy was attacked by at least one crocodile on June 18 at Johnsons of Old Hurst, near Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire. He was visiting the zoo with his family.
Staff at the zoo responded to the incident within minutes of the first radio call, according to the owners. The child was rescued shortly thereafter and received first aid. Cambridgeshire Police confirmed they were called to the zoo at 1:34 PM BST. The boy, who is from Cambridgeshire, remained in a stable condition at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge.
Police have arrested and bailed a 30-year-old man on suspicion of attempted murder in connection with the incident.
The Johnsons expressed gratitude to visitors who assisted, including off-duty paramedics and police officers, whose actions they said "made a real difference." They also thanked the local community and people across the country for their support and praised their own staff for their immediate response.
Johnsons of Old Hurst is a family-run farm zoo with over 100 animals. Crocodilians were introduced to the farm in 2006, and current species include broad-snouted caimans, Nile crocodiles, and American alligators.