HUNTINGDON, ENGLAND — A three-year-old boy remained in critical but stable condition on Sunday after he was injured in a crocodile enclosure at a zoo in Cambridgeshire, England, police said. The incident happened on Thursday at Johnsons of Old Hurst near Huntingdon, where emergency services responded after reports that a child had entered the enclosure, according to Cambridgeshire Police.
Police said the child was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge with serious injuries. Authorities said a 30-year-old man from Norfolk was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder in connection with the incident. Police said the man and the child were not believed to know each other.
Detective Inspector Verity McCann of Cambridgeshire Police said officers were continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident. “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 said, according to police statements.
The zoo said staff responded after the boy entered the crocodile enclosure and that the child was removed from the area before receiving medical assistance. Police said emergency crews attended the scene shortly after being called. Details of exactly how the boy entered the enclosure remained under investigation.
The investigation is being handled by detectives from the force’s major crime unit. Police said the arrested man was later released on bail after being assessed as unfit for interview, with inquiries continuing.
Johnsons of Old Hurst is a family-run attraction that houses a range of animals, including crocodiles and other species, according to information published by the zoo. Following the incident, the zoo temporarily closed its Tropical House area while the investigation continued, while officials said the wider site remained open.
Authorities have urged people not to speculate while the investigation remains active. Local officials and police said support was being provided to the child’s family.
As of Sunday, police had not announced further details about possible charges or the circumstances leading to the incident. The child remained under medical care, and officers continued to gather information from witnesses and others connected to the case.
