A 3-year-old boy suffered serious injuries after ending up in a crocodile enclosure at Johnsons of Old Hurst zoo in Huntingdonshire, Cambridgeshire, on June 18 at about 1:24 PM BST. [1, 2, 3, 4]
Zoo staff, including the zoo owner’s wife, Tracey Johnson, rescued the boy from the enclosure. A local villager described her as "an extraordinary lady and very brave," saying she would risk her own life to save others. [5, 3, 4, 6]
The boy was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge. He remains in critical but stable condition. Reports indicate he may have suffered a broken arm and pelvis, though authorities have not confirmed detailed injuries. [1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 4, 6]
A 30-year-old man from Norfolk was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder related to the incident. [1, 2, 8, 4, 6] Police said they do not believe the man and the child are known to each other. Detective Inspector Verity McCann 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." She added that inquiries are ongoing and specialist officers continue to support the boy’s family. [1, 3]
The arrested man was deemed unfit for interview and released on bail. Sources differ on the bail expiry date, citing either September 18 or September 30, 2026, for his scheduled return to police custody. [5, 3, 7, 6]
Johnsons of Old Hurst is a privately owned, family-run zoo housing over 100 animals including crocodiles, lions, and tigers. [2, 3, 7, 4] The zoo has closed its Tropical House section out of respect for the boy’s family, while the rest of the site remains open to visitors. [5, 3, 7, 6]
Local officials expressed sympathy and called for no speculation. Huntingdonshire district councillor Charlotte Lowe said, "I can’t fathom how it’s happened because they’ve got all the right protection and safety equipment, for want of a better word, in there." MP Ben Obese-Jecty added, "This is now a live criminal investigation and I would ask people to refrain from speculation online." [3, 4, 6]
Emergency services were called to the zoo immediately after the incident was reported. [1, 3, 4] The man is due to attend further police inquiries in September 2026.
