Oxford News
Johnsons statement after boy thrown into crocodile enclosure
Emergency services raced to Johnsons of Old Hurst, near Huntingdon, and a critical incident was declared by police on June 18.
He was rescued from the pit by staff members, including the zoo’s owners Andy and Tracey Johnson, who are said to have leapt into the enclosure.
The toddler received treatment at the scene before being rushed to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge.
It has since been revealed he was attacked by one of the reptiles when he ended up in the enclosure on June 18.
The boy remains in a stable condition.
In a statement issued on Thursday (July 2), Johnsons of Old Hurst described the incident as “one of the most distressing” in its history.
A spokesperson said: “We were alerted to reports that a child had allegedly been thrown into our of crocodile enclosures in the Tropical House.
“Everyone who was on site that day acted with incredible speed and determination. Within minutes of the first radio call, the child had been rescued from the enclosure and was receiving first aid.
“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.
“We would also like to express our heartfelt thanks to the visitors who stepped forward to help, including off-duty paramedics and police officers whose calm and immediate actions made a real difference.”
They added: “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 kindness we have received from our local community and from people across the country has been overwhelming.
“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. Thank you for standing with us.
“Above all, our thoughts remain with the young boy and his family. 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.”
A 30-year-old man from Norfolk was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder shortly after the incident.
The suspect, believed to have learning difficulties, has since been released on bail until September 18.
The force confirmed the man, who is not known to the victim, has been assessed as “not being fit for interview”.
Detectives are now reviewing CCTV at the premises in a bid to understand the circumstances surrounding the incident.
A fundraising page set up to pay for the toddler’s treatment and recovery has raised more than £22,000 days after it was first launched.
According to the organiser, any funds remaining after meeting the family’s needs will be donated to charities and organisations within the Addenbrooke’s Trust.
In a statement released on Wednesday (July 1), the victim’s family said: “We would like to thank the staff at the zoo who rescued our son from the enclosure.
“We are truly grateful for the public support and well-wishes we have received, as well as to everyone who has been directly involved in our son’s care and recovery in hospital.
“Our attention remains focused on his recovery and supporting him through this extremely challenging and prolonged period of time.”
It has since been revealed no safety concerns were indicated regarding the zoo’s conditions at the time of the incident.
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The game kicks off at 1am on Monday, July 6.
Calls have been growing in recent days for leeway beyond the 2am extended pub opening hours already in place for England matches during the Football World Cup.
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England will face Mexico in the Round of 16 after beating the Democratic Republic of the Congo 2-1 on Wednesday but the next game in Mexico City begins at 1am BST and will not finish until after the previous extended hours provision.
Sir Keir Starmer said: “Football might be coming home but we’re making sure fans don’t have to.
“Pubs staying open till the final whistle is good news for supporters and good news for the pubs and venues that bring our communities together.
“The whole country will be backing the team. Come on England!”
Winterwatch was first released in 2012, as a spin-off to the equally popular shows Springwatch and Autumnwatch.
Chris Packham and Kate Humble launched the show, with Michaela Strachan, a loyal Oxford United fan, going on to replace the latter.
Winterwatch showcased various aspects of British wildlife during the harsher, colder months, with its live video feeds and thermal cameras capturing creatures in the wild.
The BBC has now revealed that Winterwatch will not continue as part of its “evolving commissioning strategy”, and a podcast is expected to replace it.
It has also been confirmed that Springwatch will return in May 2027 for three weeks.
Instead of Winterwatch, a new video podcast, with the working title Naturewatch, is coming to BBC Two, BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds.
Launching this autumn, it will provide a regular round-up of the biggest British nature stories every week.
It will celebrate seasonal wildlife moments, explore nature news, talk to experts, and share remarkable animal sightings from across the UK.
Each weekly episode will be accompanied by a special audio-only Q&A programme, exclusive to BBC Sounds, where hosts will answer audience questions about the natural world.
Jack Bootle, Head of Commissioning for Specialist Factual, said: “Nature never stops – and neither should we.
“Every week, Naturewatch will give Springwatch fans – and all wildlife lovers – a new way to stay connected to the natural world, whether that’s on TV, iPlayer or Sounds.
“The BBC is committed to celebrating British nature across all our platforms, and we hope this new series will encourage audiences to fall in love with the natural world around them.
“By expanding the Watches brand, we are making the BBC’s brilliant Natural History content even more accessible.”
Fans of Winterwatch have shared their sadness at the decision, with some urging the BBC to reconsider.
One said: “This is really sad, what a great programme.”
Another added: “This is sad news. They are wonderful programmes,” and a third wrote: “This is a dreadful decision.”
Others shared a link to the contact page on the BBC, saying: “It only takes a few minutes to write a quick, polite comment asking them to reconsider.”
Michaela Strachan has been a U’s fan for a number of years, and was at Wembley in 2024 with her son to see the team promoted.
Oxford United were promoted to the Championship after a 2-0 win over Bolton Wanderers at the Sky Bet League One play-off in Wembley.
More than 30,000 Oxford fans were backing the team at Wembley and saw them earn their first promotion in 25 years.
John Howson, a former Liberal Democrat county councillor, who lives near the rail station and has noticed how there is often not enough room on the narrow pavements in Hythe Bridge Street for the large number of pedestrians who use them.
The street is one of the most popular routes for visitors arriving at the rail station who walk to the city centre.
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Mr Howson said now is a good time to review the matter as traffic could get worse when the Botley Road reopens.
The road is due to reopen at the end of August following a three-and-a-half year closure linked to work connected with a multi-million pound upgrade of Oxford station.
Mr Howson said: “Should the county council consider closing Hythe Bridge Street to through traffic, and just use Park End Street as the north-south route through the city, especially now we have the congestion charge and reduced traffic flows?
“This issue was highlighted during a recent Oxford University open day, which brought large numbers of visitors from the railway station heading to Broad Street in the city centre.
“The pavements in Hythe Bridge Street between the end of the canal and Worcester Street have always been an issue for pedestrians, but the closure of the footpath between Rewley Road and Upper Fisher Row for long-term building works has brought the issue into sharper focus.”
Mr Howson added: “Hythe Bridge Street could remain a shared space between these two roads for residents and deliveries, and only in use for emergency vehicles between the canal and Worcester Street. All other traffic could be routed via Park End Street.
“There might need to be additional measures to stop cars queuing for the Westgate car park blocking the Park End Street junction at Frideswide Square, but that is something, especially at weekends, the county council should have tackled months ago.
“As a part of this change, the routing of buses to and from the station forecourt might also be worth reconsidering, as the current arrangement in Frideswide Square is not conducive to good timekeeping during periods of heavy traffic.
“The reopening of the Botley Road in September will only make matters worse, if nothing is done, as there will be a new influx of vehicles from the west towards the city centre and Westgate.”
Oxford Pedestrians Association has long identified Hythe Bridge Street as one of the worst congestion points for pedestrians.
It said in a statement that the county council should consider a radical change to improve life for pedestrians heading into the city centre from the station, adding the street should be “closed to through motorised traffic to create a safe and pleasant walking and cycling route between the station and city centre”.
Chairwoman Sushila Dhall said: “The pavements on Hythe Bridge Street especially at the east half of the road are far too narrow considering they are the main route between the station and the city centre. Pedestrians frequently spill out into the road.”
The county council has been asked to comment.
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