Zoo owner's wife leapt into croc pit to save boy A three-year-old boy is fighting to recover after a horrifying incident at a Cambridgeshire zoo that saw him end up inside a crocodile enclosure — and a dramatic rescue by the zoo owner’s wife has now emerged. Emergency services raced to Johnson’s of Old Hurst zoo in Huntingdonshire on Thursday after reports that a young child had entered the crocodile enclosure. The boy suffered serious injuries and was rushed to hospital, while police launched a major investigation into the shocking incident. As questions swirl over exactly what happened, a former zoo worker has hailed the actions of Tracey Johnson, the wife of zoo owner Andy Johnson, describing her response as nothing short of heroic. Chris Newman, who previously housed crocodiles at the zoo and knows Ms Johnson well, said she jumped around 15ft into the enclosure to help rescue the child. He praised what he called a “remarkable act of bravery”. Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Mr Newman said Ms Johnson was “a lovely lady” and that her actions should be recognised as “incredibly heroic”. He added that her courage came as no surprise to those who know her. “That's exactly what she would do,” he said. “She's a very brave, very strong lady.” The dramatic rescue unfolded after emergency services were called to the zoo at around 1.24pm on Thursday. An ambulance, rapid response vehicle, ambulance officer vehicle and air ambulance all attended the scene. Police later confirmed that zoo staff pulled the child from the enclosure. Mr Newman explained that if a child fell or was thrown into the crocodile area, there was likely a drop of around 15ft. He said a fall from that height alone could cause significant injuries to a young child. He also described how crocodiles typically react to unexpected objects entering their territory. According to Mr Newman, if something lands close to a crocodile, its immediate reaction may be to snap or bite as part of its natural behaviour. He said that if the boy landed near one of the reptiles, an “investigatory bite” could be expected. However, it remains unclear whether the child was bitten by a crocodile during the incident. Reports from The Sun and the Press Association cited local accounts of Ms Johnson’s involvement in the rescue. The Johnson family has not publicly commented on those claims. The boy was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge. According to The Sun, he suffered a broken arm and pelvis. Police said he remains in a critical but stable condition. Specially trained officers are continuing to support his family at the hospital. The investigation has also focused on a 30-year-old man from Norfolk. He was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after the incident. Police said the man and the child were not known to each other. Detectives later released the suspect on bail until 18 September while further inquiries continue. The force added that the man had been assessed as not fit for interview. Johnson’s of Old Hurst began life as a family-owned dairy farm and has since expanded into a farm shop, butcher’s, tea room, steakhouse and zoo. The zoological gardens house more than 100 animals, including lions, tigers, bears and crocodiles. The zoo says it specialises in crocodile conservation and has more than 20 years of experience caring for the reptiles. Owner Andy Johnson also helped compile a European-published dossier on crocodilian farming, welfare and husbandry. Detective Inspector Verity McCann said police were continuing to investigate the “distressing incident”. She said: “Our thoughts remain with the boy, and his family and specialist officers continue to support them through this difficult time.” Meanwhile, the zoo announced that its tropical house, home to the crocodiles, will remain closed until further notice out of respect for the family. In a social media statement, the zoo said its thoughts and prayers were with the boy and his family following the incident. As detectives work to establish exactly how the child came to be in the enclosure, attention remains firmly focused on the young boy's recovery and the circumstances behind one of the most shocking incidents ever reported at the attraction. Zoo owner’s wife jumped 15ft to rescue boy from crocodile enclosure
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