A 3-year-old boy who fell into a crocodile enclosure at a zoo in England reportedly suffered serious injuries, according to new details emerging from the incident.
The boy was rushed to a local hospital after last week’s terrifying ordeal at Johnson’s Zoo in Old Hurst, Cambridgeshire.
“Apparently, the boy has a broken pelvis and a broken arm, but thankfully the crocodile didn’t actually get to him,” an eyewitness told The Sun.
The incident happened on June 18 when the toddler was allegedly thrown into the crocodile enclosure.
A 30-year-old man with learning difficulties was later arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. Police subsequently released him on bail after determining he was “not fit for interview.” The investigation is ongoing.
3-year-old fell in to a crocodile enclosure
The boy allegedly first hit a concrete walkway, before rolling into the water. If he had landed differently, his injuries might have been even worse.
Chris Newman, director of the National Centre for Reptile Welfare, previously told MailOnline: “If a child landed next to a crocodile, I absolutely would expect that animal to react and snap.
“I wouldn’t expect them to eat a child, but it would bite a child if it landed on it or by it.
“That’s where the trouble would come – they have such a powerful bite. Even an investigatory bite would be catastrophic.”
Meanwhile, witnesses have begun sharing accounts of the frightening scene that happened at the zoo.
“The whole zoo went really quiet”
One mother said she was sitting nearby with her 2-year-old daughter, talking to her father on the phone, when the situation suddenly erupted.
“We sat there and heard a loud scream. Never in a million years did I think someone was in with the crocodiles,” she recalled, according to LADbible.
“The whole zoo went really quiet and it felt really eerie.”
The child was ultimately rescued by Tracey Johnson, the wife of the zoo’s owner, who reportedly jumped into the enclosure first. Her husband and son then followed to help bring the boy to safety.
“We mustn’t underestimate how much of a difference Tracey made. She was first in there. She jumped in and dealt with an awful situation,” Newman told The Times.
“She was then joined by her husband and son. It was a team effort. They are a resilient family but they are distraught. Their thoughts and concerns are for the child.”
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