Get you up to speed: Zoo where child ‘thrown to crocodiles’ reopens nine days later | News UK
A three-year-old boy sustained serious injuries after being thrown into a crocodile pit at Johnsons of Old Hurst zoo near Huntingdon. A mentally disabled suspect was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder but has been released on bail, with authorities confirming an investigation is underway.
Johnsons of Old Hurst zoo will fully reopen its site this weekend, including the crocodile attraction where the incident occurred. The investigation into the unauthorised access to the boy’s medical records is ongoing, with Cambridge University Hospitals referring itself to the Information Commissioner’s Office for further scrutiny.
Johnsons of Old Hurst zoo announced it will fully reopen its site, including the crocodile attraction where a three-year-old boy was injured. Meanwhile, an investigation is underway concerning the handling of patient records after it was revealed that up to 40 staff accessed the boy’s medical details at Addenbrooke’s Hospital.
What remains unclear — The investigation into why 40 staff accessed the boy’s medical records at Addenbrooke’s Hospital is ongoing.
Zoo where boy suffered serious injuries reopens after crocodile incident
The zoo where a three-year-old boy was seriously injured after he was allegedly thrown into a crocodile pit has reopened.
The boy ended up in a 15ft-deep enclosure while visiting Johnsons of Old Hurst zoo near Huntingdon with his family.
A ‘mentally disabled’, who broke away from his carers, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder but was released on bail after being described as ‘not being fit for interview’ by police.
Johnsons of Old Hurst said its whole site will be open ‘as of this weekend’.
In the post dated June 27, it said: ‘Public announcement. As of this weekend, our whole site will be fully open, thank you.”’
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The zoo has confirmed this included the crocodile attraction, where one of the reptiles attacked the boy.
The three-year-old was said have to sustained ‘serious injuries’ in the enclosure but was rescued by the zoo owner’s wife, who jumped in to save him.
Chris Newman, the director of the National Centre for Reptile Welfare, told the BBC that Tracey’s husband Andy and their youngest son Edward were all involved in the rescue.
The suspect reportedly has hearing difficulties and has two carers who, according to a witness, were ‘on their phones’ when he allegedly attacked the child.
A mum who was at the zoo at the time said: ‘I don’t know if it was definitely him but 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 and chatting among themselves and on their phones.’
The suspect was found unfit for interview and bailed until September 18.
An investigation has also been launched after the boy was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital, where up to 40 staff accessed his medical details.
Cambridge University Hospitals said they were exploring why so many people accessed the victim’s records, and has referred itself to the Information Commissioner’s Office.