A SPLIT-SECOND FROM DISASTER? SH0CKING IMAGES EXPOSE THE CROCODILE HABITAT WHERE A 3-YEAR-OLD WAS ALLEGEDLY THROWN BY A STRANGER AT A UK ZOO
The terrifying scene a three-year-old boy faced after allegedly being thrown into a crocodile enclosure at an England zoo has been revealed.
The boy was allegedly thrown by a stranger into a habitat housing multiple crocodiles at Johnsons of Old Hurst, a zoo in central England, about 1.24pm BST (10.24pm AEST) on Thursday.
The zoo owner’s wife, Tracey Johnson, jumped into the enclosure to rescue the child, The Sun reported.
The boy was rushed to hospital with serious injuries and was in a critical but stable condition.
Photos from inside the zoo show visitors standing on raised boardwalks overlooking a sprawling crocodile enclosure filled with water, dense greenery and rocky islands.
Multiple barriers and fences can be seen between the public viewing areas and the habitat below.
Several crocodiles can be seen throughout the habitat, with some in the water and others resting on land.
According to the zoo’s website, the collection includes a range of crocodilian species, including American alligators, broad-snouted caimans, Cuvier’s dwarf caimans, Morelet’s crocodiles, Nile crocodiles, saltwater crocodiles, Siamese crocodiles, spectacled caimans and West African dwarf crocodiles.
The zoo’s Nile crocodiles are among its biggest attractions and can grow to almost 5m in length.
Police arrested a 30-year-old man from Norfolk, who was not known to the child, on suspicion of attempted murder.
Local media reported the man has learning difficulties and had been visiting the zoo with a carer, who was not with him at the time of the incident.
Police said they were investigating if the boy was attacked by any of the animals.
A local resident told The Sun they saw distraught staff members embracing one another in the aftermath.
“It’s simply awful,” they said.
In a statement posted to social media, Johnsons of Old Hurst said its Tropical House would remain closed until further notice “out of respect to the family”.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the boy and his family following the incident that occurred today,” the statement read.
“If you have any questions about the incident, please direct inquiries to Cambridgeshire Police Constabulary.
“The rest of the site will remain open as normal.”
SOURCE: https://7news.com.au/news/photos-reveal-crocodile-enclosure-where-boy-3-was-allegedly-thrown-by-stranger-at-uk-zoo-c-22456696
