The suspect accused of hurling a 3-year-old boy into a crocodile pit at a UK zoo was a man with learning disabilities on a day trip with his caretaker — as it emerged the zoo owner’s fearless wife had jumped in to save the child, according to reports.
The 30-year-old man appears to have grabbed the young child — a stranger — while his caretaker took his eye off him Thursday at the popular Johnsons of Old Hurst zoo in Cambridgeshire, England, according to the Sun.
He then hurled the terrified kid over a 4-foot fence into the crocodile enclosure, leaving him in critical but stable condition, the Cambridgeshire Constabulary said Friday.
The suspect was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder — but released on bail after being “assessed as not being fit for interview,” the police department said.
The update came as it emerged that the zoo owner’s wife, Tracey Johnson, had immediately jumped into the enclosure and rescued the toddler before the crocodiles could get to him.
The 3-year-old was rushed to a hospital with a broken pelvis and arm, according to the outlet. He remains in critical but stable condition, officials said.
Police said that the investigation was “ongoing as we continue to understand the circumstances surrounding this distressing incident.
“Our thoughts remain with the boy, and his family and specialist officers continue to support them through this difficult time.”
The zoo, which opened its reptile section in 2019, offers a “crocodile feeding experience” for roughly $100.
Johnson and her husband, Andy, said in a statement their “thoughts and prayers are with the boy and his family.”
“Out of respect, our tropical house will remain closed until further notice. The rest of the site will remain open,” they said.
