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A woman who went into a crocodile enclosure to rescue a three-year-old boy who was being attacked has been hailed as “heroic”, as police revealed a man arrested for attempted murder has been released on bail.<\/p>\n
The woman is understood to be Tracey Johnson, wife of the owner of the zoo where the boy was seriously injured after ending up into the enclosure on Thursday afternoon.<\/p>\n
Police were called to Johnsons of Old Hurst near Huntingdon on Cambridgeshire just before 1.30pm on Thursday and arrested a man on suspicion of attempted murder.<\/p>\n
He has now been bailed until 18 September after being deemed not fit for interview, said Cambridgeshire Police.<\/p>\n
Chris Newman, a director of the National Centre for Reptile Welfare who knows the Johnson family, said the bravery shown was typical of Mrs Johnson.<\/p>\n
“She rushed in to save the child. I don’t know whether she was on the ground floor where the crocodile [was] or whether she climbed down from above … but she’s incredibly brave to do what she did. I’m sure her intervention made all the difference,” he told ITV News.<\/p>\n
“These are predators in that enclosure and there may have been another 10 or so animals with her. Just to completely have total disregard for her own safety, going and rescuing the child, let’s recognise that for what it is: that’s very heroic.”<\/p>\n
Police have said no crocodiles have been seized or put down following the incident.<\/p>\n
The crocodiles at Johnsons of Old Hurst, pictured in April 2026. Credit: ITV News Anglia<\/p>\n
The boy received medical treatment at the scene before being taken to Addenbrooke\u2019s Hospital in Cambridge, where he remains in a critical but stable condition.<\/p>\n
Det Insp Verity McCann said: \u201cOur inquiries are ongoing as we continue to understand the circumstances surrounding this distressing incident.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur thoughts remain with the boy, and his family and specialist officers continue to support them through this difficult time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Visitors to the zoo on Friday spoke of their shock at hearing the news.<\/p>\n
“We come here a lot as a family and we\u2019d planned to come today anyway before we knew what happened yesterday,” said Carly Fitzgerald from Ramsey, who was visiting with her son and daughter.<\/p>\n
“My partner has a three-year-old little girl and we were just saying how awful it is to have something so close by be so totally out of character for the place as its such a lovely place.<\/p>\n
“It\u2019s so safe and friendly. It\u2019s just unbelievable really. You just never think anything like that is going to happen, ” she added.<\/p>\n
Police said they do not believe the man and child were known to each other. Credit: ITV News Anglia<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Johnsons of Old Hurst is a family-owned zoo, butchery, farm shop, tea room and steakhouse.<\/p>\n
On its website, it describes itself as “a working farm and zoo with tropical gardens located in the heart of the countryside”.<\/p>\n
Its zoo houses more than 100 animals, “from majestic African lions and Bengal tigers to incredible crocodiles, delightful sloth bears and many more”.<\/p>\n
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