Witnesses have recounted the horrifying moment a three-year-old boy was allegedly thrown into a crocodile enclosure at a British zoo, before the owner’s wife jumped in to save him.
Tracey Johnson is said to have pulled the child to safety after the incident, which happened yesterday at Johnsons of Old Hurst, near Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire. The boy was taken to hospital and remains in a critical condition with a broken arm and pelvis.
Police have arrested a 30-year-old man from Norfolk on suspicion of attempted murder. Officers believe the suspect was not known to the child, and he remains in custody while inquiries continue.
Some reports said the suspect, described by witnesses as having mental disabilities, had been at the zoo with a carer. Authorities have not publicly confirmed those details.
The child had reportedly been watching the reptiles from an elevated viewing platform when he was thrown about 15 feet into the tropical house enclosure.
The pit is home to at least 15 crocodiles and alligators, among them two of the largest animals at the attraction — Nile crocodiles named Romeo and Cuddles. The pair are believed to measure between 9ft and 11ft, with Romeo, the male, weighing as much as 485lbs.
It is not yet known whether the boy sustained all his injuries from the fall or if he was also attacked by one of the animals.
Mrs Johnson runs the zoo with her husband Andy, who last night said their ‘thoughts and prayers are with the boy and his family’.
‘Out of respect, our tropical house will remain closed until further notice. The rest of the site will remain open,’ he said in a statement.
Pictured: Owners Andy Johnson and wife Tracey transporting a 400lb crocodile in 2009. Tracey is believed to have pulled the boy to safety
The boy had been looking at the reptiles when he was thrown around 15ft from this elevated viewing platform into the Johnsons of Old Hurst tropical house near Huntingdon
A three-year-old boy was thrown into a crocodile enclosure by a stranger at a zoo in Cambridgeshire yesterday (Pictured: An alligator named Albert in the enclosure)
Andy Johnson feeds one of the crocodiles
The couple are highly experienced animal handlers and have previously been pictured transporting 400lb crocodiles by hand with zoo staff.
The incident unfolded in front of horrified visitors inside the tropical reptile house at Johnsons of Old Hurst, near Huntingdon.
The zoo is run by fourth-generation farmer Mr Johnson, his wife and their sons, George and Edward.
A blog post on the zoo’s website says 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.
The zoo is now home to more than 100 animals, including lions, tigers, sloth bears, capybaras, and meerkats.
In an interview with The Sun in 2019, Andy Johnson spoke of various crocodiles, including Cuddles and her brother Romeo.
He said: ‘Cuddles isn’t that cuddly. She took my fingers a few weeks ago.’
He added of Romeo: ‘He loves the back of his leg being tickled – all the skin around their belly and legs is soft.
‘He can’t reach that bit. It keeps him calm.’
Police refused to be drawn on how the child ended up in the enclosure. They are understood to be investigating whether he was attacked by the animals before being pulled out.
A neighbour of the zoo, who asked not to be named, described hearing a ‘lot of sirens’ then an air ambulance arriving.
Father-of-two Mike Annicelli, 52, who also lives close to the zoo, described the crocodile enclosure, saying: ‘Everything is elevated, you’re far away from the animals.
‘There are some areas which have plastic glass so people can look through – but there is also 4ft fencing around the walkway so it is impossible for people to fall in accidentally.
‘Because of the way that railing’s set up it would be hard for a kid to climb over it, like a small kid.’
The incident has chilling echoes of an incident at the Tate Modern in London in 2019 when a six-year-old French tourist was hurled from an outdoor viewing platform.
He somehow survived the 100ft fall but suffered life-changing injuries.
Disturbed teenager Jonty Bravery was jailed for life with a minimum term of 15 years in 2020 for attempted murder.
He is being held at Broadmoor, a high-security psychiatric hospital in Berkshire.
The zoo is run by fourth-generation farmer Mr Johnson, his wife and their sons, George and Edward (pictured together)
An aerial view of the zoo in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, as police descended following the incident yesterday
One villager said they saw staff at the zoo hugging each other and some were in tears after the incident.
Local councillor Charlotte Lowe, 52, said: ‘I can’t fathom how this happened. There is all sorts of protection at the zoo including perspex screens.
‘The only place where people can get over into the enclosure is the walkways which have fencing around them at chest height.
‘I don’t see how a child could have gone in accidentally.’
Two police cars were parked outside the zoo entrance last night as a uniformed officer stood guard at the main gate just a few yards from the farmhouse home of Mr and Mrs Johnson.
Mr Johnson, 56, became fascinated with crocodilians during a trip to Florida and adopted several from a private collector.
The site now is said to have a collection of around 50 crocodiles and alligators which are mainly used as an environmentally friendly way of getting rid of dead livestock.
The zoo’s website states its tropical house, a converted barn, is home to American alligator, broad-snouted caiman, Cuvier’s dwarf caiman, Morelet’s crocodile, Nile crocodile, saltwater crocodile, Siamese crocodile, spectacled caiman and West African dwarf crocodile. The largest of these species is the saltwater crocodile, which is found between India and Australia, and can grow up to 20ft long and weigh 3,300lbs – half the weight of a large SUV.
About half of the planet’s 23 species of crocodilians are considered dangerous to humans with the Nile crocodile and the saltwater crocodile responsible for the vast majority of human fatalities.
On Wednesday, the zoo marked International Crocodile Day by posting a picture on social media of one of its inhabitants.
The caption read: ‘Crocodilians are at the very core of our history, our passion and the journey that has shaped Johnsons Zoological Gardens into what it is today.
‘These incredible animals have inspired generations of our family and continue to fascinate visitors from all over the country.’
Johnsons of Old Hurst is a family-owned zoo with a farm shop, tea room and steakhouse
A Cambridgeshire Constabulary spokesman said: ‘Officers were called to the zoo at 1.24pm to reports of an incident involving a three-year-old boy, during which he ended up in the crocodile enclosure.
‘The boy has been taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital [in Cambridge] with serious injuries and is critical but stable. Officers are at the hospital supporting the boy’s family. A 30-year-old man from Norfolk has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.’
Detective Inspector Verity McCann, of the force’s major crime unit, said: ‘At this stage we are speaking to people who were at the zoo at the time of this distressing incident to understand more about the circumstances. We do not believe the man arrested and the child are known to each other.’
Police and Crime Commissioner for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Darryl Preston, said: ‘My thoughts go out to the family of the little boy involved in this truly horrific incident. I can only begin to imagine the trauma those involved are going through.
‘While I have been fully briefed by the Chief Constable (Simon Megicks, Cambridgeshire Constabulary), I would like to remind everyone that this is an ongoing operational issue and therefore I am not able to comment any further at this stage.’
A Huntingdonshire District Council spokesperson said: ‘We are aware of the serious incident that has taken place today at Johnson’s of Old Hurst.
‘Our thoughts are with the young boy and his family at this very difficult time.
‘We are working closely with partners, including Cambridgeshire Police.
‘We urge people not to speculate on the circumstances surrounding this incident while inquiries are ongoing.’
