Zoo owner’s wife ‘jumped into crocodile enclosure to save toddler thrown in by stranger’

Zoo owner’s wife ‘jumped into crocodile enclosure to save toddler thrown in by stranger’ A man from Norfolk has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder - Bookmark A zoo owner’s wife jumped into a crocodile enclosure to save a critically injured three-year-old boy who was allegedly thrown in by a stranger, locals have said. Cambridgeshire Police said a man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after officers were called to Johnson’s of Old Hurst, in Huntingdonshire, at 1.24pm on Thursday to reports that a child had “ended up in the crocodile enclosure”. A villager who did not want to be named told PA that the zoo owner’s wife, Tracey Johnson, had jumped in to try to save the child. According to The Sun, the boy suffered a broken arm and pelvis. Detectives from the major crime unit of Cambridgeshire Police are investigating. They say they do not believe the man and child knew each other. The boy was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridgeshire with serious injuries and is in a critical but stable condition, police say. Specially trained officers are at the hospital supporting his family. A 30-year-old man from Norfolk has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. An ambulance, a rapid response vehicle, an ambulance officer vehicle and an air ambulance were sent to the scene. A uniformed police officer was at an entrance to the site on Thursday evening, with a marked police car parked in the car park. Johnsons said that “out of respect to the family”, Tropical House would remain closed until further notice. They added: “Our thoughts and prayers are with the boy and his family following the incident that occurred today.” In 2019, when the zoo opened its new reptile house, Andy Johnson, who runs the farm, told Cambridgeshire Live: “It's just amazing for people to be able to look down on the animals with no barriers. It inspires you because they are there in real life, not like something you just saw on the TV.” The zoo, which has more than 100 animals, says it offers a range of family-friendly activities. Its website advertises a 30-minute “crocodile-feeding experience” for £80. The crocodiles, which are kept in a tropical house building in a converted cattle shed, were initially kept to help dispose of waste meat from the butchery, but they went on to be the start of a zoo, the owners say. Mr Johnson says he has participated in composing a “European published dossier on the farming, welfare and husbandry of crocodilians”. Local councillor Charlotte Lowe said she “can’t fathom” how the boy ended up in the crocodile enclosure. “They’ve got all the right protection and safety equipment, for want of a better word, in there,” she said. “This incident – I think it’s shocked an awful lot of people, especially the locals.” Some reports suggested the boy had been thrown into the enclosure. Mike Annicelli, 52, who lives nearby, said he had felt safe visiting the zoo. He estimated the reptiles were about 15ft below a raised platform and that there was fencing along walkways which he estimated was around 4ft high. Ben Obese-Jecty, the MP for Huntingdon, said he was liaising with senior officers over the case. On social media he wrote: “I am aware of the incident at Johnsons of Old Hurst and have been liaising with senior officers at Gold Command who are treating this as a critical incident. “This is now a live criminal investigation and I would ask people to refrain from speculation online. “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.”