Staggering amount raised for family of boy, 3, thrown into crocodile pit

A staggering amount has been raised for the family of the three-year-old boy who was thrown into a crocodile pit last month.

A fundraiser has reached £105,000 for the boy who was left with life-changing injuries after being hurled into a 7ft crocodile enclosure at a Cambridgeshire zoo on June 18.

The child was attacked by a crocodile after being thrown into the pit at Johnsons of Old Hurst, near Huntingdon, before staff heroically pulled him to safety.

A fundraising page launched to support the family has now surpassed the six-figure mark, with the largest single contribution of £2,500 coming from an anonymous donor.

The boy suffered extensive injuries including tendon, nerve and blood vessel damage, broken bones and severe tissue damage across both arms, his neck, head and face.

Since the incident, the youngster has endured seven surgical procedures in hospital.

One operation lasted 12 hours — a period his family described as "the worst 12 hours of our lives", during which they were "signing consent forms involving resuscitation and amputation".

"We were unsure if our son was going to make it and that was the worst feeling in the world," the family said in a statement released through police.

Among the procedures was a nerve graft intended to restore movement in his left hand.

In an update posted to the fundraising page earlier this month, his parents were astonished at his progress.

"Four weeks later and the cheeky little boy that we love so much is talking to the nurses, playing using his feet and smiling again," they wrote. "We are amazed at how far he has come."

Since the incident, a 30-year-old man from Norfolk was detained on suspicion of attempted murder and has been subsequently released on bail.

Police said he was "assessed as not being fit for interview".

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The suspect is said to have learning difficulties and had been visiting the zoo accompanied by carers.

Authorities have launched an inquiry into the care arrangements after he was spotted being bundled into a vehicle in a car park by two carers shortly after the incident.

The boy was rescued from the enclosure by Tracey Johnson, wife of the zoo's owner, who leapt into the pit to retrieve him. The toddler received emergency medical treatment at the scene before being rushed to hospital.

Johnsons of Old Hurst said at the time it had been "alerted to reports that a child had allegedly been thrown into one of our crocodile enclosures".

The family were profoundly thankful for the staggering amount of public support shown so far.

"We would like to thank the staff at the zoo who rescued our son from the enclosure," they said.

"We are truly grateful for the public support and well-wishes we have received, as well as to everyone who has been directly involved in our son's care and recovery in hospital."

While acknowledging they are "not at the end of our journey", the family said they remain "hopeful" that the most recent procedure "will be the last for now which means if everything goes well we will be able to go home soon".

According to the fundraising page, any surplus funds after meeting the family's needs will be directed to charities and organisations within the Addenbrooke's Trust to support other families in similar circumstances.

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