The three-year-old toddler who was “thrown” into a crocodile enclosure last week is in a stable condition, police have confirmed.
On Thursday, at Johnsons Zoo near Huntingdon, the boy was “thrown” into the crocodile enclosure and subsequently attacked by at least one of the animals, it is understood.
He was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.
A spokesman for Cambridgeshire Police said: “The boy is no longer critical and is in a stable condition in hospital.”
A 30-year-old man from Norfolk was arrested on suspicion of murder following the incident.
The boy and the man were not known to each other.
However, the man has since been released on bail after being determined as “not being fit for interview”.
On Thursday at 1.34pm, emergency services were called after reports of an incident.
Police outside Johnsons of Old Hurst near Huntingdon on Thursday following the incident
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PA
A spokesman for East of England Ambulance Service said at the time a rapid response vehicle, an ambulance and Magpas Air Ambulance attended the scene.
The boy was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambride.
He is from Cambridgeshire and was visiting the zoo with his family when he was “thrown” in, sustaining serious injuries while in the enclosure, but was pulled out by zoo staff, the police said.
An investigation was launched by Cambridgeshire Police involving their Major Crime Unit.
The zoo is home to over 100 animals, as well as crocodiles (picture taken before incident)
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ALI MOORE
On Friday 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.”
Ben Obese-Jecty MP for Huntingdon, said on Thursday he was “liaising with senior officers” following the incident.
He wrote on social media: “I am aware of the incident at Johnson’s of Old Hurst and have been liaising with senior officers at Gold Command who are treating this as a critical incident.
“This is now a live criminal investigation and I would ask people to refrain from speculation online.
“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.”
Chris Newman, the director of the National Centre for Reptile Welfare told the BBC he had spoken to the child’s family, describing them as “distraught”.
He said: “Tracey was the first on the scene, but she was then joined by her husband Andy and their youngest son Edward. All three were involved in the rescue.
“All three were heroes… they’re a close-knit family and they’re still quite shaken by it.”
Johnsons of Old Hurst, according to its website, is a family-run farming business which now has a butchers, tea room, steakhouse, farm shop and zoo.
The zoo boasts more than 100 animals, including tigers, lions, sloth bears, meerkats and crocodiles.
A blog post on the Johnsons’ website said the crocodiles were acquired initially to eat waste meat from the butchery, but they continued on to be the beginning of the zoo.
The zoo offers experiences allowing children to aid keepers look after smaller animals or other packages such as 30 minutes feeding crocodiles for £80 or £100 for feeding lions.
The man arrested in connection to the incident has been bailed until September 18.