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The toddler who was allegedly thrown into a crocodile enclosure was mauled by at least one of the animals, it is understood.
The three-year-old suffered serious injuries after ending up in the crocodile pit at the popular Johnsons of Old Hurst family zoo in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, yesterday afternoon.
He was rescued from the animals after the zoo owner’s wife, Tracey Johnson, 55, is said to have jumped down the 15 ft pit, and taken to the hospital, where he remains in a critical but stable condition.
The child was attacked at least by one of the animals while inside the enclosure before being pulled to safety, Metro understands.
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He is believed to have suffered a broken arm and pelvis, but it remains unclear which injuries were the result of the fall.
A 30-year-old man, who police believe was not known to the child, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder in connection with the incident.
He was subsequently released on bail after being described as ‘not being fit for interview.’
The suspect was described as a ‘mentally disabled’ man who is said to have broken away from his carers during an organised outing to the zoo, which houses over 100 animals, including crocodilians, big cats and bears.
The emergency services were scrambled to the farm attraction near St Ives at about 1.24pm yesterday, with an air ambulance land team dispatched.
Johnsons of Old Hurst said in a statement: ‘Our thoughts and prayers are with the boy and his family following the incident that occurred today.
‘Out of respect to the family, our Tropical House will remain closed until further notice.
‘If you have any questions about the incident, please direct enquiries to Cambridgeshire Police Constabulary.
‘The rest of the site will remain open as normal.’
The family-owned farm is led by Andy Johnson, a fourth-generation farmer and a crocodile enthusiast. It has ballooned into an attraction with a farm shop, a tea room, a steakhouse, a butcher’s and the zoo.
Mrs Johnson’s friend praised her for her ‘extraordinary bravery’ after the news emerged that she had jumped in.
A mum, who was sitting with her child on a bench outside, said she heard a loud scream before the entire zoo went quiet.
Shortly after, she and other visitors were asked to leave due to ‘an incident’ before the emergency services arrived in about 10 minutes.
A white sheet was erected between the zoo cafe and the farm shop while the crews worked on the boy.
The woman said: ‘My daughter was oblivious to everything because she is so little but it is scary because, what went through my head was, if I hadn’t of stopped to make that call it could have been her.
‘The little boy was only three and my daughter is two, it could have been her.’
The crocodilians at the zoo, which include Nile crocodiles, alligators and caymans, are fed poultry and meat cuts from the on-site butcher’s, Chris Newman, director at the National Centre for Reptile Welfare, who has visited the zoo several times, said.
He told Metro: ‘They are very well fed at the zoo, but if something like a body was thrown from above and it entered the water, it would be a natural reaction for the crocodile to bite down on it.
‘But of course, even an investigatory bite like that would be serious on a young child.’
When asked how likely a large crocodile would be to let go, he said: ‘The crocodile almost certainly let go itself, because they are so well fed, it would be something that is out of the ordinary, I would expect it to bite it and let go of it.
‘And someone jumped in as well.
‘It is a big tropical and they have multiple big ponds, so I don’t know which animal was involved.’
‘Cambridgeshire Constabulary said: ‘Officers were called to the zoo at 1.24pm by the ambulance service to reports that a three-year-old boy had suffered serious injuries.
‘The boy, who sustained serious injuries while in the enclosure, was pulled out by staff from the zoo and received medical treatment at the scene before being taken to hospital.’
Det Insp Verity McCann said: ‘Our enquiries 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.’
Crocodile facts
Crocodilians are found in the wild across tropical climates in Africa, Asia, the Americas and Australia.
Saltwater crocodiles can grow the largest, and they can also live the longest, up to around 70 years. Their cells don’t age in a standard biological way like humans, and an elderly croc man be as energetic as a young one.
Crocs can swim extremely fast underwater thanks to their powerful tail, which allows them to propel at a prey during an ambush.
Crocodiles are known to stalk their victims and learn their behaviour patterns, and they use ambush to target prey.
In the wild, the water’s edge is the croc’s number one kill zone, and even a large croc can hide in seemingly shallow water.
Salties can stay submerged two hours on average, and up to eight hours in optimal conditions, as they can slow their heart rate to just 2-3 beats per minute.
The reptilians have a famously foul breath described as that of raw sewage and rotting meat due to their diet of carcasses and scavenging.
Their stomachs are highly acidic to break down large chunks of meat and bone, and food particles become lodged in their teeth, contributing to the smell of death.
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