It has been revealed that a woman jumped into a crocodile enclosure in a desperate attempt to save a child from serious harm.
The three-year-old boy is now in critical condition after being allegedly thrown into the enclosure by a stranger at Johnson’s of Old Hurst, a family-run zoo in Huntingdonshire.
Tracey Johnson, wife of the zoo owner, leapt into the enclosure to rescue the child, according to multiple witnesses.
One villager told the Press Association: "Apparently, the wife of the zoo owner, Tracey Johnson, jumped in to the enclosure to save the child."
A three-year-old boy remains in a critical condition after he had to be rescued from a crocodile enclosure at a zoo in Cambridgeshire.
A 30-year-old man, who is not thought to be known to the child, has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
Comments on this post have… pic.twitter.com/C1uIAZOkg5— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) June 19, 2026
Cambridgeshire Police said the boy remains in critical but stable condition in hospital.
A 30-year-old man from Norfolk has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
Detective Inspector Verity McCann said: "At this stage we are speaking to people who were at the zoo at the time of this distressing incident to understand more about the circumstances.
"We do not believe the man arrested and the child are known to each other.
"Officers are supporting the boy’s family at hospital and our thoughts remain with them."
The zoo has closed its Tropical House until further notice.
In a statement on social media, Johnson’s said: "Our thoughts and prayers are with the boy and his family following the incident that occurred today."
The ambulance service confirmed that an ambulance, a rapid response vehicle, an ambulance officer vehicle and an air ambulance attended the scene.
On Thursday evening, a police officer was at an entrance to the site.
The rural site is located off a leafy rural lane in the village of Old Hurst and also includes a tea room, farm shop, and steakhouse.
The zoo houses more than 100 animals, including lions, tigers, sloth bears, capybaras and meerkats.
Crocodiles are kept inside the Tropical House, a converted cattle shed.
According to the zoo’s website, the Johnson family has cared for and been involved with crocodiles for the last two decades and owner Andy Johnson has participated in composing a "European published dossier on the farming, welfare and husbandry of crocodilians."
The crocodiles were originally brought in to help dispose of waste meat from the butchery.
Mike Annicelli, a 52-year-old resident from the area, said he has visited the zoo before and always felt safe.
He said: "Everything is elevated, you’re far away from the animals."
He described a "raised platform" around 15ft above the crocodiles, with fencing along the walkways he estimated to be about 4ft high.
Huntingdonshire District Councillor Charlotte Lowe said she "can’t fathom" how the boy ended up in the enclosure.
Speaking outside the site, Ms Lowe said: "I can’t fathom how it’s happened because they’ve got all the right protection and safety equipment, for want of a better word, in there.
"This incident, I think it’s shocked an awful lot of people, especially the locals."
Ben Obese-Jecty, MP for Huntingdon, also commented on the incident.
He said: "I am aware of the incident at Johnson’s of Old Hurst and have been liaising with senior officers at Gold Command who are treating this as a critical incident.
"This is now a live criminal investigation and I would ask people to refrain from speculation online.
"The police will provide an update with further information in due course.
'They're not a major threat.'
Professor of Zoology at the University of Oxford Tim Coulson, reacts to a three-year-old being thrown into a crocodile enclosure near Huntingdon and the threat the animal poses to humans. pic.twitter.com/MqfoCAR8Ip— GB News (@GBNEWS) June 18, 2026
"My thoughts are with the young victim and his family during a hugely traumatic and difficult time."
Alastair Torrance, deputy chairman of Old Hurst Parish Council, said: "I do feel enormously for the family of the child.
"It must’ve been absolutely terrible for the child and the family."
A spokesperson for Huntingdonshire District Council said: "We are working closely with partners, including Cambridgeshire Police.
"We urge people not to speculate on the circumstances surrounding this incident while inquiries are ongoing."
