Fury over ‘shameful’ Wowcher advert that ‘made fun’ of crocodile toddler attack | UK | News
Wowcher sent an email mentioning crocodile attacks just days after a devastating incident (Image: SWNS)
Wowcher has been branded “distasteful” after sending out a promotional email encouraging shoppers to “snap these deals faster than a crocodile can grab a child”. The email hit customers’ inboxes on Saturday, just two days after a toddler was “thrown” into an alligator enclosure and seriously injured.
The three-year-old child remains in a stable but critical condition and remains hospitalized. Despite the negative public reaction to the incident, Wowcher distributed an email with the subject line: “Seize these opportunities faster than an alligator can catch a child!” The company, known for its loud and bold promotions, appears to have taken it a step further as horrified customers posted their disapproval online.
The subject line read: “Seize these opportunities faster than an alligator can catch a child!” (Image: Wowcher)
One customer shared a screenshot of the email saying Wowcher should be “shameful.” One added: “So unpleasant.” Another said: “I have a dark sense of humor but I really don’t know what Wowcher is thinking here. Imagine parents buying this?!”
Another disappointed customer demanded an apology, writing: “You think this is funny? You should be ashamed of yourself. Apologize immediately.” Another said: “We’re talking seriously about bad taste. Whoever thought this topic was appropriate?”
A third described himself as “unsubscribed now”, while another condemned it as “disgusting” and added “someone needs to be fired if this is real.”
Another customer wrote: “I emailed them but received no response. I will definitely not use them again, even if it was a poor attempt to make a joke in some way.”
Wowcher apologized “unreservedly” for its “unacceptable” language after screenshots of the email were shared on social media platforms and bulletin boards.
A spokesperson said: “We are extremely sorry for an email subject line sent by Wowcher yesterday. The wording was unacceptable. It should never have been written, never approved for use.
“The onus is on us and we are urgently reviewing how our processes failed. We recognize the pain and distress this has caused, particularly for the young child’s family, at this unimaginably difficult time.”
“We are reviewing all planned marketing content while urgently strengthening our creative, approval and signature protection measures. There is no excuse for this. We apologize unreservedly and will take steps to ensure this does not happen again.”
Police are currently reviewing CCTV footage of the incident. (Image: SWNS)
Police are understood to be reviewing CCTV footage following the incident at Old Hurst Johnsons, near Huntingdon, on Thursday.
Officers were called to the zoo by the ambulance service at 1.24pm to reports that a three-year-old child had been seriously injured. The little boy received medical treatment at the scene before being taken to Addenbrooke’s hospital in Cambridgeshire.
Cambridgeshire Police arrested a 30-year-old man on suspicion of attempted murder, but he was released on bail and deemed “unfit to appear”. The alleged attacker is understood to have been with carers at the time, but police have not confirmed he was a vulnerable adult.
The child, who was understood to be with his family at the time of the incident, was rescued by zoo officials who jumped into the closed area to pick him up.
Det Insp Verity McCann confirmed investigations were continuing as police continued to understand the circumstances surrounding this “regrettable incident”.
“Our thoughts are with the child, his family and specialist officers continue to support them during this difficult time,” they said.
