A three-year-old boy has undergone his fifth surgery at Addenbrooke’s Hospital after falling into a crocodile enclosure at Johnsons of Old Hurst zoo in Cambridgeshire on June 18.
The child suffered severe injuries during the afternoon incident. Zoo staff pulled him to safety before emergency services arrived.
A crowdfunding campaign launched to support the family has surpassed £25,000 in donations.
The boy's parents expressed their appreciation online, noting they have remained by his side since the incident.
"We are extremely grateful for everyone's generosity," the parents stated.
"We could never thank you enough for the support you have given our family in this horrible time."
Medical professionals have indicated that additional operations will be required in the coming weeks.
"We have been living at the hospital for two weeks now and our son has undergone five surgeries," the parents said.
The family explained that the recovery process will require long-term care and rehabilitation.
"His rehabilitation journey is uncertain but we do know that it won't be a short process.
The money that has been donated so far has been used to pay for our expenses," they stated.
Both parents have paused their employment to remain at the hospital.
"We are both currently away from work and the time in which this will need to be the case is unknown," they said.
The financial contributions have helped mitigate immediate strain.
"The donations have helped ease the pressure of these expenses so we are extremely grateful to everyone," the parents added.
The family intends to direct future funds toward specialized care and the hospital.
"Further donations will be used to support our son's rehabilitation and to give back to the hospital who have helped us in many ways during this challenging time.
Thank you," they stated.
Police Investigation and Zoo Response
Following the incident, Cambridgeshire Police arrested a 30-year-old man from Norfolk on suspicion of attempted murder.
The suspect, who reportedly has learning difficulties and was visiting with carers, was subsequently bailed after being assessed as unfit for immediate police interview.
Authorities confirmed that the young boy remains in stable condition.
Police stated that the boy remains in Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge in a "stable condition," having been "injured by a crocodile" after he ended up in the enclosure.
Management at Johnsons of Old Hurst issued a public statement praising the immediate response of individuals on the property.
The zoo said it was "alerted to reports that a child had allegedly been thrown into one of our crocodile enclosures" on June 18.
Zoo co-owner Tracey Johnson reportedly entered the enclosure directly to rescue the child.
"Everyone who was on site that day acted with incredible speed and determination," the Johnsons stated.
The child received immediate first aid from staff and visitors before specialized medical teams arrived.
"Within minutes of the first radio call, the child had been rescued from the enclosure and was receiving first aid," the Johnsons said.
An air ambulance supported local emergency crews during the medical evacuation.
"The emergency services arrived very quickly, supported by the MAGPAS Air Ambulance, and we cannot thank them enough for their professionalism, compassion and dedication in such difficult circumstances," the Johnsons stated.
Several visitors with medical and law enforcement backgrounds assisted during the crisis.
The zoo expressed "heartfelt thanks to the visitors who stepped forward to help, including off-duty paramedics and police officers."
The zoo management noted that the rapid intervention significantly impacted the outcome. They said their "calm and immediate actions made a real difference."
The facility commended its internal team for executing emergency protocols without delay.
"We are immensely proud of our own staff, who responded without hesitation and did everything they could to help and support the child until the emergency services took over," the attraction added.
The zoo owners expressed gratitude for the widespread community support.
"The kindness we have received from our local community and from people across the country has been overwhelming," the Johnsons stated.
"Every message of support, every kind word and every expression of concern has meant a great deal to our family and our team during an incredibly difficult time," they added.
The business owners reiterated their commitment to supporting the family. "Thank you for standing with us," the Johnsons stated.
The statement concluded with an appeal for public empathy: "Above all, our thoughts remain with the young boy and his family."
The zoo management extended hopes for the child's health while requesting space for the parents.
"We continue to hope and pray for his speedy recovery, and ask that they are given the privacy, compassion and support they need at this time," they stated.
The boy's family issued a statement through Cambridgeshire Police to thank the staff at the zoo who rescued their son.
Police noted that the ambulance service initially contacted them at 1:24 p. m.
regarding a child who sustained serious injuries inside the enclosure before being pulled out by staff.
