Man held as boy 'ends up in crocodile enclosure' in UK

A man has been arrested in the UK on suspicion of attempted murder after a three-year-old boy ended up in a crocodile enclosure at a zoo.

Cambridgeshire Police said officers were called to Johnson's of Old Hurst, in Huntingdonshire, at 1.24pm to "reports of an incident involving a three-year-old boy, during which he ended up in the crocodile enclosure".

"The boy has been taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital (in Cambridge) with serious injuries and is critical but stable," a force spokesperson said.

They added: "Specially-trained officers are at the hospital supporting the boy’s family.

"A 30-year-old man from Norfolk has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder."

Detective Inspector Verity McCann said: "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.

"We do not believe the man arrested and the child are known to each other.

"Officers are supporting the boy’s family at hospital and our thoughts remain with them."

According to its website Johnson's of Old Hurst is a family-run farming business that now features a butchers, a farm shop, tea room, steakhouse and zoo.

The zoo is home to more than 100 animals, including lions, tigers, sloth bears, capybaras, meerkats and crocodiles.

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.

The crocodiles are kept in a converted cattle barn, which has metal-fenced elevated walkways looking down on large pools of water surrounded by tropical vegetation.

In a statement on social media, Johnson's said that "out of respect to the family" Tropical House will remain closed until further notice.

They added: "Our thoughts and prayers are with the boy and his family following the incident that occurred today."

An ambulance, a rapid response vehicle, an ambulance officer vehicle and an air ambulance were sent to the scene, the ambulance service said.

A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire County Council said: "Our thoughts are with the victim and their family but as this is a live police investigation, we cannot comment any further."