The relatives of a three-year-old boy who was allegedly thrown into a crocodile enclosure at a Cambridgeshire zoo have shared a fresh update, revealing the extent of the serious injuries he has suffered.
The incident happened on June 18 at Johnsons of Old Hurst, near Huntingdon, and left the child badly hurt. Police arrested a 30-year-old man from Norfolk on suspicion of attempted murder after the boy ended up in the enclosure.
Investigators later said the man had learning disabilities and had been visiting the attraction with carers when the alleged attack took place. Police have since said he was assessed as not being fit for interview and later released on bail.
The youngster has remained in Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, where he has undergone a lengthy course of treatment and multiple operations while his parents stay by his bedside.
On July 17, the family provided further information about his recovery and the latest surgery he has had.
His grandmother, who launched a GoFundMe campaign to support the family, wrote:
“Today our son had his seventh surgery. In that surgery, the surgeons completed a nerve graft on his left arm.
“They harvested a nerve from his leg to replace part of the nerve that was missing in his left arm. Over time, this nerve will hopefully embed and help our son to regain some function in his left hand.”
She added:
“We won’t know whether the nerve graft has been successful until tests can be carried out in a few months’ time.”
In the aftermath of the attack, the child was found to have sustained injuries affecting several tendons, blood vessels and areas of tissue across his arms, neck, head and face.
Once admitted to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, he underwent emergency surgery lasting 12 hours in total.
His grandmother said:
“The surgeons performed miraculous things,”
She continued:
“Those were the worst 12 hours of our lives, as before that, we were signing consent forms involving resuscitation and amputation.
“We were unsure if our son was going to make it and that was the worst feeling in the world.”
The latest update said the boy is now stable, with the family hopeful he may soon be well enough to return home after what they described as a long and uncertain recovery.
She said:
“The cheeky little boy that we love so much is talking to the nurses, playing using his feet and smiling again. We are amazed at how far he has come.
“We are not at the end of our journey but are hopeful that today’s surgery will be the last for now, which means if everything goes well, we will be able to go home soon.”
The family previously thanked zoo staff for rescuing their son from the enclosure, and said they remain focused on his recovery and rehabilitation.