A man arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a three-year-old boy ended up in a zoo’s crocodile enclosure reportedly has learning difficulties and had been on a trip with a carer.
Cambridgeshire Police said the 30-year-old arrested man, from Norfolk, was “assessed as not being fit for interview” after Thursday’s incident at Johnsons of Old Hurst.
He has been released on bail until September 18.
The boy, who was not known to the man, remains in a critical but stable condition at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, the force said.
It is understood that he was attacked by at least one crocodile after he was allegedly thrown into the enclosure.
Police were called to the zoo at 1.24pm on Thursday by the ambulance service to reports that a three-year-old boy had suffered serious injuries.
Cambridgeshire Police said the boy “sustained serious injuries while in the enclosure” and “was pulled out by staff from the zoo”.
Tracey Johnson, the wife of the zoo owner, reportedly jumped into the enclosure to save the child.
Police said the boy “received medical treatment at the scene before being taken to hospital”.
Detective Inspector Verity McCann 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.”
In a statement on social media, Johnsons said that “out of respect to the family” Tropical House will remain closed until further notice.
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.”
