‘THE WORST 12 HOURS OF OUR LIVES’ — FAMILY OF BOY THROWN INTO CROCODILE PIT REVEALS THE TERRIFYING DECISIONS THEY FACED AT HOSPITAL
Family of boy, three, thrown into crocodile pit by disabled man reveal distressing extent of his injuries
A three-year-old boy who was thrown into a crocodile pit by a disabled man has been left with enduring health issues after the ordeal.
The child was hurled 15ft into an enclosure containing at least 15 reptiles at Johnsons of Old Hurst in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, on June 18.
The suspect, 30, who has a learning disability, was visiting the zoo with two carers when he launched the attack. He was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder later that day.
The toddler was taken to hospital after he reportedly landed on a concrete walkway, suffering a broken arm and pelvis – before being bitten by a crocodile.
The boy’s family have now provided an update on his recovery process, revealing nearly a month on from the attack, he is still in hospital receiving urgent surgical care.
He has undergone seven gruelling operations, with the most recent, a nerve graft, aiming to restore some function to one of his hands.
And in an agonising twist, the family remain unsure whether the surgery, which took place on Wednesday, has worked – as this can only be confirmed with further tests in a few months’ time.
His grandmother has now set up a GoFundMe page, which has raised more than £65,000 so far, to support his continuing rehabilitation.
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The child was hurled 15ft into an enclosure containing at least 15 crocodiles at Johnsons of Old Hurst in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, on June 18. Above: File photo of the zoo’s enclosure
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The boy’s family have now provided an update on his recovery, revealing one of his hands was left without function after the attack. Above, police at the scene on the day of the assault
She explained the boy’s most recent operation, undertaken at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, saw medics replace part of a damaged nerve in his arm with one taken from his leg.
‘Over time, this nerve will hopefully embed and help our son to regain some function in his left hand,’ she wrote on the fundraiser, sharing a message on behalf of the child’s parents.
‘We don’t know whether the nerve graft has been successful until tests can be carried out in a few months’ time.’
The boy also suffered extensive damage to tendons, blood vessels and tissue in his arms, neck, head and face – which saw him need emergency 12-hour surgery immediately after the attack.
‘The surgeons performed miraculous things,’ his grandmother wrote, telling of the heartbreak of watching him go into theatre – which saw medics warn his family to fear for the worst.
‘Those were the worst 12 hours of our lives, as before that, we were signing consent forms involving resuscitation and amputation.
‘We were unsure if our son was going to make it and that was the worst feeling in the world.’
Thankfully, the child’s condition is now stable, with the prospect of a return home on the horizon.
His grandmother explained: ‘The cheeky little boy that we love so much is talking to the nurses, playing using his feet and smiling again. We are amazed at how far he has come.
‘We are not at the end of our journey but are hopeful that today’s surgery will be the last for now, which means if everything goes well, we will be able to go home soon.’
But it is far from the end of the family’s troubles, as both the boy’s parents have taken time off work to care for him on what will likely be, his grandmother said, ‘a long road to recovery’.
‘His parents are currently by his side in hospital, supporting him through both immediate and ongoing care physically and psychologically,’ she wrote, appealing for support from loved ones.
‘Every donation, no matter the size, will support the family by giving them the financial stability they need as they navigate through this difficult time.
‘It will also support their son’s further recovery and rehabilitation in the upcoming months and years ahead.’
She said any funds remaining after the family’s needs are met will be donated to the Addenbrooke’s Trust – which cared for her grandson – to help others in similar positions.
The grandmother thanked the zoo owners, who immediately jumped into the enclosure to save the boy after the attack, for their ‘extraordinary bravery and quick actions’.
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Zoo owners Andy and Tracey Johnson (above, with one of their crocodiles in 2009) immediately jumped into the enclosure to rescue the boy after the attack, along with their son Edward
She also expressed her gratitude to all those who had donated and expressed support: ‘The family are deeply grateful for the kindness, prayers and well wishes they have received.’
Witnesses of the attack told the Daily Mail the suspect allegedly picked up the boy, lifted him over a security fence and hurled him into the crocodile enclosure.
They said the man’s carers were ‘on their phones’ and ‘ten metres behind’ him when he launched the assault.
Andy and Tracey Johnson, the zoo’s owners, quickly jumped into the enclosure to rescue the boy, along with their son Edward.
A source with knowledge of the incident claimed the suspect’s two carers then left the enclosure with him shortly afterwards.
‘[The carers] tried to get him into the car. Another member of staff was there and prevented them from leaving,’ the insider said.
The suspect was released on bail hours after his arrest – with police deeming him unfit for interview.
A council safeguarding investigation has since been opened to examine the level of support he received.
Norfolk County Council has launched an ongoing Section 42 inquiry into the man’s care, seeking to determine if he was at risk of, or experiencing, abuse or neglect.
The local authority said it had stopped referrals to the care provider involved in the case, when asked by the Daily Telegraph.
A spokesman for the council said it was working with ‘partners in the health and care system to identify and review all those individuals receiving care from this provider and to ensure the care they are receiving is of the quality and consistency they expect and deserve’.
While the suspect was from Norfolk, it is understood his care was not commissioned, provided or paid for by Norfolk County Council.
Zoo owners Mr and Mrs Johnson said in a statement: ‘We were alerted to reports a child had allegedly been thrown into one of our crocodile enclosures in the Tropical House.
‘Everyone who was on site that day acted with incredible speed and determination.
‘Within minutes of the first radio call, the child had been rescued from the enclosure and was receiving first aid.
‘The emergency services arrived very quickly, supported by the MAGPAS Air Ambulance.
‘We cannot thank them enough for their professionalism, compassion and dedication in such difficult circumstances.
‘We are immensely proud of our own staff, who responded without hesitation and did everything they could to help and support the child until the emergency services took over.’
Originally a dairy farm, Johnsons of Old Hurst also has a butcher’s, a farm shop, a tea room and a steakhouse.
According to its website, the crocodiles were initially kept to help dispose of waste meat from the butchery.
But over time, they became the start of a zoo, which is now home to more than 100 animals, including lions, tigers, sloth bears, capybaras and meerkats.
SOURCE: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-15982613/Boy-three-thrown-crocodile-pit-disabled-man-left-enduring-health-issues-ordeal.html