Wowcher apologises for advert mocking toddler bitten by alligator

Wowcher has issued an apology for sending out a ‘disgusting’ marketing email just days after a toddler was tossed into a crocodile enclosure.

The mass email in question, which went to millions of customers, had the subject line, ‘Snap up these deals quicker than a croc can catch a kid!’

It then advertised an Oceana inflatable kayak ride for two and a spa experience at a four-star Hampshire establishment.

This followed the news of a three-year-old suffering serious injuries at the family-run Johnsons of Old Hurst zoo in Huntingdon, outside Cambridge, on Thursday afternoon.

He was thrown 15 feet as his family watched, breaking his arm and pelvis when he landed on the concrete.

Tracey Johnson, 55, the zoo owner’s wife, bravely jumped into the reptile pit to save him.

The child was airlifted to Addenbrooke’s Hospital and remains in a ‘critical’ condition but is stable.

In a statement addressing the poor-taste ad, a Wowcher spokesperson began: ‘We are extremely sorry for an email subject line sent by Wowcher yesterday.

‘The wording was unacceptable. It should never have been written; it was never approved for use.’

They added: ‘The responsibility sits with us, and we are urgently reviewing how our processes failed.

‘We recognise the hurt and distress it has caused, particularly for the young child’s family at this unimaginably difficult time.’

The company is now ‘reviewing all scheduled marketing content’, insisting that it will also ‘urgently strengthen [its] creative, approval, and sign-off safeguards’.

‘There is no excuse for this. We apologise unreservedly and will take the necessary steps to make sure this does not happen again.’

The reactions

When screengrabs of the email were shared on social media over the weekend, recipients branded it ‘appalling’ and ‘shocking’ and claimed ‘more’ than an apology was needed.

‘Jesus what made them think that was ok!’, asked Kerry Pealing on Facebook.

‘I am utterly disgusted with their post. Someone should be sacked!’, raged Caroline Birchall.

Meanwhile, as the toddler fights for his life, a man arrested on suspicion of attempted murder is out on bail until September.

The individual, 30, was not known to the boy and has been deemed ‘unfit for interview’ by police.

He is believed to have been a vulnerable adult with serious learning difficulties who was accompanied by two carers on the zoo outing.

However, questions are now being asked about the carers’ roles, as the suspect, who reportedly has hearing difficulties, was ‘metres away’ from them when he grabbed the toddler.

A source also told The Sun that the carers were allegedly ‘on their phones’ at the time and ‘weren’t paying him much attention’ as they chatted ‘amongst themselves’.

Chris Newman, the director of the National Centre for Reptile Welfare and a close friend of the zoo’s owners, echoed that ‘the role of the carers needs to be looked at’.

Praising the owners for their quick thinking, he recalled that, after Tracey jumped in, so did Andy (her husband) and Edward.

‘There is nothing more that the zoo owners could have done.’

‘It has been incredibly hard for everyone involved,’ he said, but the owners ‘still naturally feel guilty about what happened’.

Police continue to review CCTV footage and interview staff and witnesses.

‘Our inquiries are ongoing as we continue to understand the circumstances surrounding this distressing incident,’ confirmed Detective Inspector Verity McCann.