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A three-year-old boy is in a critical condition in hospital after suffering injuries in a zoo’s crocodile enclosure, with police having arrested a man on suspicion of attempted murder.
Cambridgeshire Police said they were called to Johnsons of Old Hurst, near Huntingdon, just before 1.30pm on Thursday after reports that a boy had “ended up in the crocodile enclosure”.
Police said the boy was in a “critical but stable” condition in hospital, where his family are being supported by specially trained officers.
A 30-year-old man from Norfolk has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
Posting on social media, Johnsons said its “thoughts and prayers are with the boy and his family” and said that its crocodile enclosure would remain closed until further notice “out of respect” to them.
The crocodiles at Johnsons of Old Hurst, pictured in April 2026. Credit: ITV News Anglia
Det Insp Verity McCann, from Cambridgeshire Police, said: “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.
“We do not believe the man arrested and the child are known to each other.
“Officers are supporting the boy’s family at hospital, and our thoughts remain with them.”
A spokesperson for the East of England Ambulance Service said an ambulance, a rapid response vehicle, an ambulance officer vehicle and Magpas Air Ambulance attended the scene.
“A child was transported by road to hospital for further care,” they added.
Police said they do not believe the man and child were known to each other. Credit: ITV News Anglia
Mike Annicelli, 52, who lives close to the zoo, said he had previously visited the attraction and had felt safe.
Describing the crocodile enclosure, he said: “Everything is elevated, you are far away from the animals.”
Mr Annicelli added there was a “raised platform” and estimated the crocodiles were about 15ft below and there was fencing along walkways, which he estimated was around 4ft high.
He said it would “hard” for a child to scale that barrier.
A neighbour of the zoo, who asked not to be named, described the incident as shocking and heard a lot of sirens before the air ambulance arrived.
Johnsons of Old Hurst is a family-owned zoo, butchery, farm shop, tea room and steakhouse.
On its website, it describes itself as “a working farm and zoo with tropical gardens located in the heart of the countryside”.
Its zoo houses more than 100 animals, “from majestic African lions and Bengal tigers to incredible crocodiles, delightful sloth bears and many more”.
It was also featured in a two-part documentary series by TV hardman Ross Kemp which aired on ITV in 2021.
Britain’s Tiger Kings – On The Trail With Ross Kemp explored the lives and facilities of private owners of dangerous wild animals.
Huntingdon MP Ben Obese-Jecty wrote on social media that his “thoughts were with the young victim and his family during a hugely traumatic and difficult time” and urged people to “refrain from speculation online”.
The family’s farm shop includes a butcher, and instead of throwing away the waste meat products, they are instead used to feed the crocs.. Credit: Cambridgeshire Live/BPM MEDIA
The incident happened a day after the zoo had celebrated International Crocodile Day.
Visitors to the zoo’s reptile house, in which the crocodiles are housed, are only able to view the animals from a raised platform above the enclosure.
A blog post on the zoo’s website says the crocodiles were initially kept to help dispose of waste meat from the butchery, but they went on to be the start of a zoo.
Now the zoo offers experiences, including some aimed at allowing children to help zoo keepers look after smaller animals, and others such as spending 30 minutes feeding crocodiles for £80 or half an hour feeding lions for £100.
Chris Newman, director at the National Centre for Reptile Welfare, who has previously been in the enclosure, said that crocodiles were “predators that were programmed to attack”.
“They’re a reactionary animal, so if something was thrown into the enclosure, then the natural response of that animal would be to bite it,” he said.
He added the animals were “just doing what they’ve been programmed to do for millions of years”.
“This is just one of those unimaginable nightmares. For something like this to happen is just shocking beyond belief. I feel so sorry for everyone involved.”
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