Reptile expert, Chris Newman praised ‘brave’ zoo keeper Tracey Johnson for rescuing a toddler who was allegedly thrown into a crocodile enclosure at a Cambridge zoo
A close friend of the heroic zookeeper who leapt into a crocodile enclosure to rescue a boy has today praised her “extraordinary courage.” Reptile specialist Chris Newman said Tracey Johnson and the three-year-old youngster were both remarkably fortunate to avoid being attacked by the massive crocodiles who are naturally “reactive.”
Tracey, 55, rushed into the crocodile pen at Johnsons of Old Hurst near Huntingdon, Cambs, after the unnamed boy was allegedly hurled in by a stranger. Tracey – who runs the zoo alongside husband Andy Johnson, 56 – managed to rescue the toddler despite the presence of at least two enormous Nile crocodiles.
The incident occurred in the zoo’s Tropical House which houses a crocodile enclosure surrounded by a towering walkway at 1.30pm yesterday. It’s believed the youngster sustained a fractured pelvis and arm and miraculously is not thought to have been harmed by the creatures.
The boy was today in a ‘stable condition’ at Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge. A 30-year-old man was arrested at the scene yesterday afternoon on suspicion of attempted murder.
This morning a pal of Mrs Johnson’s who has housed crocodiles at the zoo praised her courage and described her as an “incredibly strong woman.”
Mrs Johnson was back at the site early this morning wearing a long-sleeved top and gilet but refused to speak to reporters. Chris Newman, 67, director of the National Centre for Reptile Welfare, has kept crocodiles at the zoo and spent time inside the enclosure.
He said: “If a child landed next to a crocodile, I absolutely would expect that animal to react and snap.
“It’s no different from the way a dog would react when it’s startled. The crocodiles are incredibly well fed, so I wouldn’t expect them to eat a child, but it would bite a child if it landed on it or by it.
“That’s where the trouble would come – they have such a powerful bite. Even an investigatory bite would be catastrophic. But my suspicion is that the injuries were caused by the child falling 15ft on to concrete and sort of rolled into the water.”
Chris discussed owner Tracey Johnson, who allegedly leapt into the enclosure to help rescue the youngster. He said: “Knowing Tracey, it comes as no surprise that she acted this way – that’s exactly what she would do.
“She’s a very courageous and brave lady. She’s just a remarkable lady, quite unassuming and very family-oriented.”
Mr Newman described the attraction as a family-run business involving “a mum and dad, two sons and a daughter-in-law”.
He claimed the enclosure was so well-secured that a child could only have ended up inside if they had been deliberately hurled in.
He said: “You can get a really good view looking down at the crocodiles, but you couldn’t fall or be pushed into it – you would have to be thrown.
“It’s a large tropical house with a raised walkway which is about 15ft down.
“The crocodiles would be on the ground floor and there’s a walkway all the way around the perimeter, with vertical and horizontal safety barriers.”
He also painted a picture of the venue as “a fantastic zoo” where “public safety is a huge part” of their operations.
A local resident living near the zoo said this morning: “Tracey and the other staff were incredibly brave. They all stayed very calm and she went down into the enclosure and was able to rescue the little boy quickly before the crocodiles could harm him.
“Both she and Andy are very experienced and responsible zoo keepers and will both be mortified by what has happened.”
The zoo was due to reopen this morning, though the Tropical House was set to stay shut while police carried on with their investigation into the incident.
Yesterday, the police released a statement saying they had been called to the scene and that the boy is in a “critical but stable” condition in hospital.
His family are receiving support from specialist officers. They stated that they do not believe the man and the child are known to each other.
A 30-year-old man from Norfolk has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
Det Insp Verity McCann said: “At this stage we are speaking to people who were at the zoo at the time of this distressing incident to understand more about the circumstances.
“We do not believe the man arrested and the child are known to each other. Officers are supporting the boy’s family at hospital, and our thoughts remain with them.”
Local councillor Charlotte Lowe visited the scene yesterday and expressed her shock, saying she couldn’t believe what had happened.
She stated: “It is really shocking – I would say it is safe there. It must have been intentional.
“The crocodiles are normally lounging around. This is a popular place with families.
“My thoughts and prayers go to the little boy and his family.”
A spokesperson for Johnson’s commented: “Our thoughts and prayers are with the boy and his family following the incident that occurred today.
“Out of respect to the family, our Tropical House will remain closed until further notice. If you have any questions about the incident, please direct inquiries to Cambridgeshire Police Constabulary.
“The rest of the site will remain open as normal.”