Investigation into Care of Man Arrested After Crocodile Attack
A young boy from Cambridgeshire was visiting Johnsons of Old Hurst zoo near Huntingdon with his family when he was seriously injured in a crocodile enclosure on 18 June. The boy, aged three, was attacked by at least one crocodile at the zoo. Following the incident, his family reported that he has undergone five surgeries and faces a prolonged period of rehabilitation.
In connection with the attack, police arrested a 30-year-old man from Norfolk on suspicion of attempted murder. Norfolk County Council has since initiated an investigation under the Care Act 2014, which mandates local authorities to assess risks concerning adults from their area who have care and support needs.
Cambridgeshire Police responded to the zoo at approximately 13:30 BST on the day of the attack. The boy remains in stable condition at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge.
The arrested individual is believed to have learning disabilities and was visiting the zoo accompanied by carers. Authorities have stated that he was not known to the child. The man was released on bail until 18 September and was assessed as not being fit for interview at the time.
A spokesperson for Norfolk County Council stated:
"The individual in question is not receiving any care provided, commissioned or paid for by Norfolk County Council."
The inquiry is being conducted as a Section 42 investigation, a statutory safeguarding process under the Care Act designed to protect adults with care and support needs from abuse or neglect.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has acknowledged awareness of the incident and is coordinating with involved organisations to determine if any regulatory actions are necessary.
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and Further Reading
- Boy, 3, had five surgeries after crocodile attack
- Zoo describes horror when boy attacked by crocodile
- Family of boy attacked by crocodile thank zoo staff who rescued him
