Heroic zookeeper jumped into crocodile pit after boy, three, was thrown in

A zoo owner and her family jumped into a crocodile pit to save a three-year-old boy who had been thrown into the enclosure.

Tracey Johnson, 55, her zookeeper husband Andrew, 56, and their 29-year-old son Edward heroically leapt to the child’s rescue at Johnsons of Old Hurst zoo in Huntingdon on Thursday.

The child ended up in the pit after a stranger allegedly threw him 15ft to the crocodiles as his family watched on in horror.

After at least one of the animals attacked him, the child suffered a broken arm and pelvis.

Tracey Johnson, who owns the family-run zoo, was one of the first people to rush to the child’s rescue, followed closely by her husband and son.

The three of them were able to wrestle the child from the crocodile’s grip and bring him to safety. 

A 30-year-old man from Norfolk was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of attempted murder following the incident. 

He was bailed until September 18 after being assessed not fit for interview.

A source told The Sun that the suspect has hearing difficulties and has two carers who, according to a witness, were ‘on their phones’ when he allegedly attacked the child.

A mum who was at the zoo at the time said: ‘I don’t know if it was definitely him but I saw one bloke of a bigger build; he had two carers with him and they weren’t paying him much attention.

‘If it was him, his carers were maybe ten meters behind him and not paying much attention.

‘They were English and chatting among themselves and on their phones.’

It is thought the child was bitten either by a Nile or a saltwater crocodile. The latter is known to have the strongest bite of any living animal.

Police were called to the zoo at 1.24pm by the ambulance service who tended to the boy’s injuries.

In an update on Friday, Cambridgeshire Constabulary said the victim was in critical but stable condition in hospital.

Det Insp Verity McCann said: ‘Our enquiries 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.’

Enquiries by Cambridgeshire Constabulary’s Major Crime Unit are ongoing.