A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a three-year-old boy ended up in a crocodile enclosure, Cambridgeshire police said.
The force said officers were called to Johnson’s of Old Hurst zoo in Huntingdonshire at 1.24pm over “reports of an incident involving a three-year-old boy, during which he ended up in the crocodile enclosure”.
The boy was taken to Addenbrooke’s hospital with serious injuries and was described by police as being in a critical but stable condition.
The force said a 30-year-old man from Norfolk had been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
“We do not believe the man arrested and the child are known to each other,” DI Verity McCann said in a statement. “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.”
Officials with Johnson’s did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Ben Obese-Jecty, the MP for Huntingdon, said he had been liaising with senior officers, who were treating it as a critical incident.
“This is now a live criminal investigation and I would ask people to refrain from speculation online,” he said. “The police will provide an update with further information in due course. My thoughts are with the young victim and his family during a hugely traumatic and difficult time.”
According to its website, the zoo is home to “over 100 fascinating animals” including African lions, Bengal tigers and crocodiles. The zoo’s two largest crocodiles are called Romeo and Cuddles, the zoo says on its Facebook page.
The zoo wrote in celebration of International Crocodile Day on Wednesday: “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.”
