A three-year-old boy has been mauled by a crocodile at a zoo, with a man arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, police said.
Cambridgeshire Police said they were called to Johnson’s of Old Hurst, near Huntingdon, just before 1.30pm on Thursday after reports that a boy had “ended up in the crocodile enclosure.”
Police confirmed the boy is 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.
“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,” Det Insp Verity McCann, from Cambridgeshire Police, said.
“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.”
Johnsons of Old Hurst is a family-owned zoo, 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”.
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.”
This is a breaking story and will be updated
