Zoo where three-year-old boy was 'thrown into crocodile enclosure by man with learning disabilities' speaks out about 'distressing' incident

Published: 17:20, 2 July 2026 | Updated: 17:23, 2 July 2026 The zoo where a three-year-old boy was seriously injured after he was thrown into a crocodile enclosure has thanked staff, paramedics and visitors whose ‘calm and immediate actions made a real difference.’ Johnsons of Old Hurst in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, said everyone involved had acted with ‘incredible speed and determination’. Emergency services raced to the site on June 18 following reports that a man had hurled the toddler into the crocodile pen. The boy was rescued from the pit by staff members, including the zoo's owners Andy and Tracey Johnson, who are said to have leapt in. He received treatment at the scene before being rushed to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge. It has since been revealed he was attacked by one of the reptiles when he ended up in the enclosure on June 18. The boy, who sustained multiple injuries including a shattered arm and pelvis, remains in a stable condition following several surgical procedures. A Johnsons spokesman today described it as ‘one of the most distressing’ incidents in its history. A toddler was thrown into the crocodile enclosure at Johnsons of Old Hurst in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, last month They said: ‘We were alerted to reports that a child had allegedly been thrown into one of our crocodile enclosures in the Tropical House. ‘Everyone who was on site that day acted with incredible speed and determination. Within minutes of the first radio call, the child had been rescued from the enclosure and was receiving first aid. ‘The emergency services arrived very quickly, supported by the MAGPAS Air Ambulance, and we cannot thank them enough for their professionalism, compassion and dedication in such difficult circumstances. ‘We would also like to express our heartfelt thanks to the visitors who stepped forward to help, including off-duty paramedics and police officers whose calm and immediate actions made a real difference.’ The spokesman added: ‘We are immensely proud of our own staff, who responded without hesitation and did everything they could to help and support the child until the emergency services took over. ‘The kindness we have received from our local community and from people across the country has been overwhelming. ‘Every message of support, every kind word and every expression of concern has meant a great deal to our family and our team during an incredibly difficult time. Thank you for standing with us. ‘Above all, our thoughts remain with the young boy and his family. We continue to hope and pray for his speedy recovery and ask that they are given the privacy, compassion and support they need at this time.’ Police arrested a 30-year-old suspect, who is believed to have learning difficulties, at the scene Mr and Mrs Johnson had already stated their 'thoughts and prayers are with the boy and his family'. A 30-year-old man from Norfolk was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder shortly after the incident. The suspect, believed to have learning difficulties, was only held for a few hours before he was released on bail until September 18. The force confirmed the man, who is not known to the victim, has been assessed as ‘not being fit for interview’. Detectives are now reviewing CCTV at the premises in a bid to understand the circumstances surrounding the incident. A fundraising page set up to pay for the toddler's treatment and recovery has raised more than £22,000 days after it was first launched. The GoFundMe organiser, Lucy Lockett, said the boy, who has not been identified, had undergone ‘multiple surgeries [and] is now stable but he faces a long road to recovery’. She added: ‘His parents are currently by his side in hospital, supporting him through both immediate and ongoing care physically and psychologically.’ Owners Andy and Tracey Johnson (left), pictured in 2009, transporting a 400lb crocodile The toddler’s family also released a statement yesterday, in which they said: ‘We would like to thank the staff at the zoo who rescued our son from the enclosure. ‘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. ‘Our attention remains focused on his recovery and supporting him through this extremely challenging and prolonged period of time.’ Care bosses responsible for the man, who is understood to have learning difficulties, are being probed by industry watchdog the Care Quality Commission. A separate investigation has already been launched with the possibility of disciplinary action after up to 40 NHS staff accessed the victim’s private medical records. Tearful witnesses described hearing a blood-curdling scream at around 1.20pm on June 18 when the boy was tossed over the 4ft safety fence separating an aerial walkway from the enclosure around 15ft below. He landed on concrete before rolling into water and being attacked in front of his mother, who also had a baby with her. Another mother who was at the zoo at the time of the incident described hearing a 'loud scream' while sitting on a bench outside the enclosure. The boy - who was attacked by at least one animal - has had 'multiple surgeries’ and faces a ‘long road to recovery’, a supporter raising funds for the family has revealed She said: 'Someone later described the man that did it and said he was with carers. 'I don't know if it was definitely him but I saw one bloke of a bigger build. He had two carers with him and they weren't paying him much attention. 'If it was him, his carers were maybe ten metres behind him. They were English and chatting among themselves and on their phones.' A source with knowledge of the case claimed the carers left the scene with the suspect shortly afterwards. ‘They tried to get him into the car. Another member of staff was there and prevented them from leaving,’ the insider said. Cambridgeshire Police said at the time: ‘A 30-year-old man from Norfolk, arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, has been released on bail while detectives from the Major Crimes Unit conduct further enquiries regarding this incident. ‘The man, not known to the victim, was assessed as not being fit for interview.’ Mrs Johnson, 55, was hailed a ‘special, steadfast, old-fashioned heroine’ after climbing into the pen, wading over to the boy and pulling him to safety. She is then thought to have escaped through a keepers’ exit. Her husband and their son, Edward, are also understood to have leapt in after her. According to multiple sources, the boy was attacked by at least one animal in the enclosure. It houses at least 15 crocodiles and alligators, including two large Nile crocodiles, Romeo and Cuddles, which measure between 9ft and 11ft. Romeo, the male, can weigh up to 485lb. A mother at the zoo at the time said: 'We saw the air ambulance come over within about ten minutes. They held up a white sheet in between the farm shop and the cafe so no one could see what was happening. 'My daughter was oblivious. The little boy was only three and my daughter is two, it could have been her.' Originating as a dairy farm, Johnson’s has a butchers, farm shop, tea room and steak house, as well as the zoo. According to a blog post on its website, the crocodiles were initially kept to help dispose of waste meat from the butchery but they went on to be the start of a zoo. It is now home to more than 100 animals, including lions, tigers, sloth bears, capybaras and meerkats. The crocodile enclosure has reopened to the public. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. 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