Man arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after boy, 3, injured at zoo crocodile enclosure

A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a three-year-old boy suffered critical injuries after ending up in a crocodile enclosure at a zoo near Huntingdon.

Cambridgeshire Police said officers were called to Johnsons of Old Hurst at 13:24 BST. A 30-year-old man from Norfolk was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. Police said they do not believe the man and the child were known to each other.

The force is investigating whether the child was attacked by animals. The boy was taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital with serious injuries and remains in a critical but stable condition.

A villager told the Press Association that the zoo owner's wife jumped into the enclosure in an attempt to save the boy.

A spokesperson for Johnsons of Old Hurst said the attraction's thoughts and prayers were with the boy and his family. The Tropical House will remain closed until further notice, the spokesperson said. The rest of the site will stay open as normal.

Det Insp Verity McCann said officers were speaking to people who were at the zoo at the time to understand the circumstances. She said officers were supporting the boy's family at the hospital.

Huntingdon MP Ben Obese-Jecty said his thoughts were with the young victim and his family during a traumatic time. He urged people to refrain from speculation online and said he was liaising with senior officers treating the case as a critical incident.

Darryl Preston, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough's police and crime commissioner, said he had been briefed by Chief Constable Simon Megicks. He said his thoughts were with the family of the boy involved in the incident.

The East of England Ambulance Service said an ambulance, a rapid response vehicle, an ambulance officer vehicle and Magpas Air Ambulance attended the scene. A child was transported by road to hospital, the service said.

A Magpas Air Ambulance spokesperson said a critical care team arrived at 13:42 and treated one patient at the scene before taking them to hospital.

A near neighbour of the zoo said he heard a lot of sirens and then an air ambulance arriving. He described the incident as shocking.

Mike Annicelli, 52, who lives close to the zoo, said he had visited the attraction before. He said there was a raised platform in the enclosure and estimated the crocodiles were about 15ft below. He said fencing along walkways was around 4ft high.

According to its website, Johnsons of Old Hurst is a family-run farming business that includes a butchers, a farm shop, a tea room, a steakhouse and a zoo. It houses over 100 animals, including crocodiles, African lions and a Bengal tiger. The crocodiles are kept in a converted cattle barn with metal-fenced elevated walkways looking down on large pools of water.

Charlotte Lowe, who represents Old Hurst on Huntingdonshire District Council and Cambridgeshire County Council, said she was shocked when she heard about the incident.