Wowcher has apologised without reservation after a marketing email used language that appeared to make light of a crocodile attack involving a three-year-old boy at a zoo, while detectives continue to review CCTV footage from the scene.
The child remains in a critical but stable condition at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge following the incident on Thursday at Johnsons of Old Hurst in Huntingdonshire.
The boy is understood to have been attacked by at least one crocodile after he was allegedly thrown into the animals’ enclosure.
Detectives from Cambridgeshire Police’s Major Crime Unit are examining CCTV as part of their ongoing investigation into what happened.
Police have obtained footage showing the moments around the attack at Johnsons of Old Hurst, near Huntingdon, where the three-year-old is alleged to have fallen or been thrown from a raised viewing platform into an enclosure containing Nile and saltwater crocodiles.
Witnesses said they heard a “loud scream” coming from the zoo’s Tropical House shortly before 1.30pm on Thursday.
The child is understood to have been at the attraction with his mother and a baby sibling when the incident occurred.
On Saturday, customers of the e-commerce firm received an email advertising travel and activity offers with the headline: “Snap up these deals quicker than a croc can catch a kid.”
Detectives from Cambridgeshire Police’s Major Crime Unit are studying CCTV footage of the incident as part of their investigation
Pic shows Andy Johnson the owner of Old Hurst Animal Park in Huntingdon
Pic shows an aerial view of the crocodile enclosure at Old Hurst Animal Park
The wording sparked widespread outrage after screenshots of the email were shared across social media, with many users accusing the company of making light of a serious incident involving a young child.
In response to the backlash, Wowcher said it apologised ‘unreservedly’ for the ‘unacceptable’ wording and acknowledged the distress it had caused.
Norwich Norfolk UK Community Notice Board posted: ‘Why do wowcher think its ok to use this as a heading on their emails??’
ALSO READ: Brother of one of Fort Worth’s Missing Trio speaks out
One customer described themselves as ‘now unsubscribed’ while another person condemned it as ‘disgusting’, adding ‘if that’s real someone needs to be fired’.
Another customer wrote: ‘Emailed them back but no answer. Won’t be using them again for sure, even if its a poor effort at a joke somehow.’
A spokesperson from Wowcher said: ‘We are extremely sorry for an email subject line sent by Wowcher yesterday.
‘The wording was unacceptable. It should never have been written. It was never approved for use.
‘The responsibility sits with us and we are urgently reviewing how our processes failed.
‘We recognise the hurt and distress it has caused, particularly for the young child’s family at this unimaginably difficult time.
‘We are reviewing all scheduled marketing content while we urgently strengthen our creative, approval and sign-off safeguards.
‘There is no excuse for this. We apologise unreservedly and will take the necessary steps to make sure this does not happen again.’
A 30-year-old man who was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after the boy ended up in the enclosure reportedly has learning difficulties and had been on a trip with a carer.
Cambridgeshire Police said the arrested man, from Norfolk, was ‘assessed as not being fit for interview’.
He has been released on bail until September 18.
Police have not disclosed further details about the CCTV footage but confirmed inquiries remain ongoing.
The force said the suspect was not known to the child or his family and had been assessed as unfit for interview.
Police were called to the zoo at 1.24pm on Thursday by the ambulance service to reports that the boy, who was not known to the man, had suffered serious injuries.
Cambridgeshire Police said the boy ‘sustained serious injuries while in the enclosure’ and ‘was pulled out by staff from the zoo’.
Tracey Johnson, the wife of the zoo owner, reportedly jumped into the enclosure to save the child.
Police said the boy received medical treatment at the scene before being taken to hospital.
Detective Inspector Verity McCann previously said: ‘Our inquiries are ongoing as we continue to understand the circumstances surrounding this distressing incident.
‘Our thoughts remain with the boy and his family and specialist officers continue to support them through this difficult time.’
