A three-year-old boy who was taken to hospital in a critical condition after ending up in a crocodile enclosure at a Cambridgeshire zoo is now stable.
The child is understood to have been attacked by at least one crocodile after the incident at Johnsons of Hurst near Huntingdon last Thursday.
Officers said they were called to the zoo at 1.34pm after receiving reports that the boy, who was visiting the zoo with his family, had sustained serious injuries “while in the enclosure”.
He was pulled out by zoo staff and received medical treatment at the scene before being taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital.
A spokesperson for the force said: “The boy is no longer critical and is in a stable condition in hospital.”
A 30-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder but has been bailed after police said he was “assessed as not being fit for interview”.
The man, from Norfolk, is believed not to have known the child and is understood to have learning difficulties, and was visiting the site with carers.
Tracey Johnson, the wife of the zoo owner, reportedly jumped into the enclosure to save the child.
The zoo is off a leafy rural lane with residential properties along it, in the village of Old Hurst, with a tea room, farm shop and steakhouse also at the site.
It is home to more than 100 animals, including lions, tigers, sloth bears, capybaras and meerkats.
The crocodiles are kept inside a tropical house building in a converted cattle shed, and there are other animals in outdoor enclosures.
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.
Mike Annicelli, 52, who lives close to the zoo and has previously visited the crocodile enclosure, said of the enclosure: “Everything is elevated, you’re far away from the animals.”
He said there was a “raised platform” and estimated the crocodiles were about 15ft below and that there was fencing along walkways which he estimated was about 4ft high.
Councillor Charlotte Lowe said: “This incident, I think it’s shocked an awful lot of people, especially the locals.”
Detective Inspector Verity McCann previously said: “Our inquiries are ongoing as we continue to understand the circumstances surrounding this distressing incident.
“Our thoughts remain with the boy and his family and specialist officers continue to support them through this difficult time.”
