A three-year-old boy was thrown into a crocodile cage in England

Cambridgeshire County Police said they received a call reporting the crime to Old Hurst Zoo, near the town of Huntingdon, southern England, at 1:24 p.m. on June 18. Andy Johnson, who runs the zoo, said his wife, Tracey, rushed into the crocodile enclosure to rescue the boy. The child was taken to the hospital, his body had many serious injuries.

A 30-year-old man from Norfolk was arrested on charges of attempted murder. According to British police, this person and the baby do not seem to know each other.

British police announced on June 19 that they had released this person on bail until September 18 during further investigation, because officials assessed that he was not in a suitable state to testify.

Radio LBC reported that this person “had cognitive difficulties” and was on a picnic with his caregiver when the incident happened.

“We are talking to people who were at the zoo at the time of this unfortunate incident to better understand what happened,” Inspector Verity McCann said.

Old Hurst is a family-run farming business, including a butcher, a farm shop, tearoom, steakhouse and zoo. The website says it “houses more than 100 fascinating animals” including crocodiles, African lions and a Bengal tiger. The crocodiles are kept in a converted barn, where a metal walkway overlooks a large lake surrounded by tropical vegetation.

Mike Annicelli, 52, who lives near the zoo, described the crocodiles as lying about 4.5 meters above the floor. There is a fence about 1.2 m high along the walkway.

The Johnson family said the Tropical Greenhouse, which houses the alligators, will be closed until further notice, out of respect for the family.

“Sending our deepest wishes and sympathies to the boy and his family,” the zoo said.

Mrs Charlotte Lowe, who represents the Old Hurst area at Huntingdonshire District Council and Cambridgeshire County Council, said she was “shocked” to hear about the incident.

“For something like this to happen here is truly unbelievable,” she said. “You never think this would happen in a rural village.”

She added the barn already has safety measures in place, including Perspex glass and safe walking paths. This zoo is a place that attracts a large number of tourists from all over the country.