‘Incredibly heroic’ zoo owner’s wife ‘jumped down 15ft drop’ to rescue boy from crocodile enclosure

A former worker at the zoo where a child was allegedly thrown into a crocodile pen has described the owner’s wife, who “jumped 15ft” to save him, as “incredibly heroic”.

Cambridgeshire Police responded to an incident at Johnson’s of Old Hurst zoo in Huntingdonshire on Thursday, which saw a three-year-old child taken to hospital with serious injuries. Officers confirmed that staff at the zoo removed the young boy from the enclosure.

A 30-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder but was released on bail after being deemed “unfit to appear”.

Chris Newman, who has previously housed crocodiles at the zoo and knows the owner’s wife, Tracey Johnson, “very well”, said the zoo had performed an “extraordinary act of courage”.

He told BBC Radio 4 Today program: “I mean, she’s an absolutely lovely lady, and I think we have to regard her actions as… incredibly heroic. But frankly, there’s nothing short of what I expect from her, and that’s exactly what she would do. She’s a very brave, very strong woman.”

Mr Newman praised Ms Johnson for her quick response, saying there was probably a “15ft drop” inside the enclosure.

“[Crocodiles] They are reactive animals, so if something is thrown into enclosed spaces, if it lands near them, their immediate reaction is to bite you,” he explained. “And that’s really no different than your pet dog. If you’re talking to your dog while he’s sleeping, he’ll probably snap.

“In fact, if it were thrown in, it would land on a concrete perimeter at the edge of alligator ponds, and for a young child to land within 15ft would cause pretty serious injuries. But if it landed near an alligator, you’d expect the alligator to make an investigative bite. That’s the nature of that animal.”

It is not yet known whether the child was bitten by the crocodile.

Local people told Sun and the Press Association have reported on Ms Johnson’s involvement, but the family has yet to speak publicly about what happened.

What happened?

Emergency services responded to reports of a three-year-old boy being found in the crocodile enclosure at Johnson’s of Old Hurst zoo at around 1.24pm on Thursday.

An ambulance, emergency response vehicle, ambulance officer vehicle and air ambulance arrived at the scene.

Accordingly Sun, The child’s arm and pelvis were broken. He was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge with serious injuries and remains in a critical but stable condition. Specially trained police officers also support the child’s family in the hospital.

A 30-year-old man from Norfolk was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, and police said the man and the boy did not know each other. He was bailed until September 18 while detectives from the major crime unit conduct further investigations.

The man was deemed unfit for interview by police.

What do we know about Johnson’s of Old Hurst?

According to its website, Johnson’s of Old Hurst began as a family-run dairy farm in Huntingdon; because the family has over a century of farming experience in Old Hurst, Cambridgeshire.

It has since grown to include a butcher, farm shop, tearoom, steakhouse and a zoo. Zoos are home to more than 100 animals, including lions, tigers, bears and crocodiles. The zoo specializes in the conservation of crocodiles, with twenty years of experience in caring for reptiles.

According to the website, the owner of the zoo, Andy Johnson, participated in the preparation of a dossier published in Europe on the breeding, welfare and breeding of crocodiles.

What did the police say?

Detective inspector Verity McCann said: “Our investigations are ongoing as we continue to understand the circumstances surrounding this distressing incident.

“Our thoughts are with the child and his family and specialist officers continue to support them through this difficult time.”

What did the zoo say?

Johnson’s said in a statement on social media that the tropical house, which is home to crocodiles, will remain closed until further notice “out of respect for the family.”

They added: “Our thoughts and prayers are with the child and his family following today’s incident.”