Suspect’s carers ‘on their phones’ when boy, 3, was thrown into crocodile pit

The carers of a man suspected of throwing a child inside a crocodile enclosure were ‘on their phone’ earlier in the day, according to a report.

The three-year-old was injured at Johnsons of Old Hurst in Huntingdon, a family-run zoo outside Cambridge, on Thursday afternoon.

His family watched as the boy was thrown 15 feet into the croc enclosure, breaking his arm and pelvis when he hit the concrete.

He was rescued from the animals after the zoo owner’s wife, Tracey Johnson, 55, jumped into the pit. He remained in critical but stable condition as of yesterday, the force said.

A source told The Sun that the suspect has hearing difficulties and has two carers, while a witness told the tabloid they were ‘on their phones’.

A mum, in her 20s, said: ‘I don’t know if it was definitely him but I saw one bloke of a bigger build, he had two carers with him and they weren’t paying him much attention.

‘If it was him, his carers were maybe ten metres behind him and not paying much attention.

‘They were English and chatting among themselves and on their phones.’

How many crocodiles were involved is unclear.

A man, 30, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. He was not known to the boy and police said he was ‘not fit for interview’.

The unnamed suspect has since been released on bail until September.

The zoo’s Tropical House exhibit – a converted cattle shed which houses ancient reptiles, including alligators – will remain closed this week.

Among the crocs are Nile crocodiles Cuddles and Romeo, who weigh 127kg.

Photographs posted by the zoo on its Instagram page show signs warning that children must be supervised at all times.

‘These animals are real and dangerous,’ it says, adding: ‘Children must not be carried on the shoulders.’

For £80, over-16s or 14- and 15-year-olds with an accompanying adult can do a 30-minute ‘meet and feed our snappy crocodile’ session.

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