HUNTINGDON, United Kingdom — A three-year-old boy is in critical but stable condition after being injured inside a crocodile enclosure at Johnsons of Old Hurst in Huntingdon.
Police have arrested a 30-year-old man on suspicion of attempted murder.
Cambridgeshire Police said officers were called to Johnsons of Old Hurst, near Huntingdon, shortly before 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 18, 2026, after reports that a child was inside the enclosure.
The boy was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital, where he remained in critical but stable condition.
The police said the arrested man, from Norfolk, was being questioned by detectives from the major crime unit. Investigators said they did not believe that the man and the child knew each other.
“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,” Detective Inspector Verity McCann said.
“We do not believe the man arrested and the child are known to each other,” she added. “Officers are supporting the boy’s family at hospital, and our thoughts remain with them.”
McCann urged the public not to speculate online while the investigation continued.
“This is now a live criminal investigation and I would ask people to refrain from speculation online,” she said. “The police will provide an update with further information in due course.”
“My thoughts are with the young victim and his family during a hugely traumatic and difficult time,” she added.
Zoo Closes Tropical House
Johnsons of Old Hurst said its Tropical House, where the crocodile enclosure is located, would remain closed until further notice, while the rest of the attraction would continue operating.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the boy and his family following the incident that occurred today,” the zoo said in a statement.
“Out of respect to the family, our Tropical House will remain closed until further notice,” the statement said.
“If you have any questions about the incident, please direct enquiries to Cambridgeshire Police Constabulary.”
“The rest of the site will remain open as normal,” it added.
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The attraction, which is on Church Street in Huntingdon, is run by the Johnson family.
It includes a farm shop, a butcher’s, a tea room, a steakhouse and a zoo with crocodiles, alligators, caimans, lions, tigers, bears and other animals.
Its website says the family has a “particular fascination with crocodiles” and has worked with the animals for about 20 years.
Reports of a Rescue
The circumstances of how the boy entered the enclosure have not been formally set out by the police.
According to The Sun, a local resident said Tracey Johnson, the wife of the zoo’s owner, Andy Johnson, entered the enclosure to rescue the child.
“Apparently, the wife of the zoo owner, Tracey Johnson, jumped in to the enclosure to save the child,” the resident told the newspaper.
The species and number of crocodiles involved in the incident have not been publicly confirmed.
The zoo is known to keep several crocodilians, including two Nile crocodiles named Romeo and Cuddles.
The incident occurred a day after the zoo marked International Crocodile Day on social media, saying crocodilians were central to the history of the attraction.
“Crocodilians are at the very core of our history, our passion and the journey that has shaped Johnsons Zoological Gardens into what it is today,” the zoo said in the post.
“These incredible animals have inspired generations of our family and continue to fascinate visitors from all over the country.”
Animal Welfare Expert Comments
Chris Newman, director of the National Centre for Reptile Welfare, who told Metro he had visited the zoo several times, said the animals should not be blamed for responding instinctively.
“Crocodiles are reactionary animals,” Newman said.
“They are very well fed at the zoo, but if something like a body was thrown from above and it entered the water, it would be the natural reaction of the crocodile to bite down, but it would be an investigatory bite because they are so well fed,” he said.
“But of course, even an investigatory bite like that would be serious,” he added.
Newman said the animals were fed meat including poultry and cuts from the farm’s butcher. He said he knew the owners and described them as “lovely people.”
“My thoughts are with the boy’s family,” he said. “This is just the most horrific thing that could happen.”
