Zoo where boy was thrown into crocodile pit reopens nine days later

Get your news delivered straight to you by 7am - sign up to our new Morning Mail newsletter for FREE See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred SourceBy ELIZABETH HAIGH, SENIOR NEWS REPORTER Published: 12:58 BST, 27 June 2026 | Updated: 12:59 BST, 27 June 2026

A zoo where a three-year-old boy was 'thrown' into a crocodile pit and mauled by at least one of the creatures is fully reopening just nine days after the incident.Johnsons of Old Hurst, near Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire announced that visitors will now be able to again see the crocodiles and alligators from this weekend.Previously, the zoo had continued to open but the croc enclosure remained shut after the youngster was left in a critical condition in hospital.The young boy, who was visiting the zoo with his mother - who also had a baby with her - is understood to have been lifted over a four-foot security fence while in the crocodile enclosure and dropped into the pit below.He suffered a broken arm and pelvis and was reported to have been attacked by at least one of the animals after falling onto concrete and rolling into the water.A 30-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder but bailed within hours until September 18 after police said he 'was assessed as not being fit for interview'.The man, who is understood to have learning difficulties, was at the zoo with carers who reportedly attempted to bundle him away after the incident, and had to be stopped by members of staff.Heroic owner of Johnsons of Old Hurst Tracey Johnson had already jumped in to the crocodile pit to rescue the boy, followed by her husband Andy and son Edward, but staff then had to intervene again.The three-year-old boy was left fighting for his life after being bitten by a saltwater crocodile when he was thrown down into the enclosure (pictured) at Johnsons of Old Hurst near Huntingdon last week A source with knowledge of the case claimed his two carers left the enclosure with the suspect shortly after the zoo's owners jumped in to save the boy.'They [the carers] tried to get him into the car. Another member of staff was there and prevented them from leaving,' an insider said.A witness previously described seeing the carers 'on their phones' and walking 'ten metres behind' him.The woman said: 'I saw one bloke of a bigger build. He had two carers with him and they weren't paying him much attention.'If it was him, his carers were maybe ten metres behind him and not paying much attention.'They were English, chatting among themselves and on their phones.'Since the incident, police have confirmed the boy is no longer in a critical condition and is recovering at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge.It comes as it emerged yesterday that up to 40 NHS hospital staff have accessed the boy’s private medical records, sparking a major investigation and the threat of disciplinary action.Owners Andy and Tracey Johnson (left), pictured in 2009, transporting a 400lb crocodile The stranger who hurled a three-year-old boy into a crocodile pit at a UK zoo (pictured) was bundled into a car by his carers after the attack