Johnsons of Old Hurst: Man accused of throwing child into croc pen subject of care probe

A safeguarding investigation has been launched into the man accused of throwing a three-year-old child into a crocodile enclosure, and his level of care.

The incident occurred on June 18 at Johnsons of Old Hurst, a zoo located in Huntingdon, about 100 kilometres north of London.

The child was allegedly picked up and “thrown” into an animal enclosure by a man not known to him.

Cambridgeshire Police attended the zoo in Huntingdon around 1pm to find he was attacked by at least one crocodile, according to the BBC

Zoo staff removed the boy from the crocodile pen and he was given medical treatment at the scene before being rushed to hospital, where he remains.

Police arrested a 30-year-old British man on suspicion of attempted murder soon after the incident.

The man, reported to have learning disabilities, was released on bail after being deemed unfit for interview by the police.

Police said they believed the man was not known to the child and he was visiting the zoo with carers.

On Monday, the Norfolk County Council told The Mirror that an inquiry had been launched into the man’s care.

“The individual in question is not receiving any care provided, commissioned nor paid for by Norfolk County Council,” a council spokesperson said.

“We can confirm that a Section 42 inquiry is underway. We’re unable to comment further on an ongoing inquiry.”

A section 42 inquiry can be launched when a local authority suspects a person requiring care and support is experiencing, or at risk of, abuse or neglect and is unable to protect themselves because of their level of needs.

The update comes days after the boy’s parents issued an update on their son, saying that they had spent two weeks “living at the hospital” while he underwent multiple surgeries.

“We have been living at the hospital for two weeks now and our son has undergone five surgeries,” they said in a statement.

“At this moment in time we know that our son is to undergo at least two more surgeries, one of those surgeries being a nerve reconstruction in his arm.

“These last two weeks have been a very uncertain and unsettling time.

“This uncertainty remains as we still don’t know the extent of his feeling, movement and function in both of his arms, wrists and hands.”

“This will only be identified after casts and bandages are able to be removed and he can begin his rehabilitation journey.”

The statement was shared on a GoFundMe page which was established for the family by the boy’s grandmother, Lucy Lockett.

Since being established less than a week ago, it has raised more than £61,000 ($A117,455).

The family said they were “extremely grateful for everyone’s generosity”.

“The money that has been donated so far has been used to pay for our expenses,” they said.

“We are both currently away from work, and the time in which this will need to be the case is unknown.

“We have a newborn baby to look after, a mortgage to pay for and other expenses, including our car, food and bills.

“The donations have helped ease the pressure of these expenses so we are extremely grateful to everyone.

“Further donations will be used to support our son’s rehabilitation and to give back to the hospital who have helped us in many ways during this challenging time.”