UK police release suspect in attempted murder of three-year-old found in crocodile enclosure

A man arrested on suspicion of attempted murder in connection with a 3-year-old boy found in a crocodile enclosure has been released by British police. The man, who is not known to the child, was deemed unfit to be interviewed by authorities.

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The man, who is not known to the victim, was assessed as not being fit for interview.

Police stated the man has been released on bail until September 18, pending further inquiries. The child remains in hospital in critical but stable condition after suffering serious injuries. Reports indicate that one of the farm and zoo's owners, Tracey Johnson, bravely intervened and saved the boy from the enclosure.

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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 has been incredibly heroic. It's nothing more than I would expect from her.

Johnsons of Old Hurst, the family-run farm and zoo where the incident occurred, has stated that its Tropical House, which houses at least 15 crocodiles and alligators, will remain closed indefinitely. The exact cause of the child's injuries is still under investigation, with speculation that they may be from the 15-foot fall onto concrete and into the water, rather than solely from a crocodile attack.

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She's a very strong lady. I know it would have been incredibly difficult. It's about a 15-foot drop, so to get in there that quickly and save the child is an incredible act of bravery.

Chris Newman, director of the National Center for Reptile Welfare, praised Johnson's actions as heroic, noting the difficulty of entering the enclosure quickly. He suggested that while a crocodile might bite if a child landed near it, the animals are well-fed and unlikely to have consumed the child. Newman's suspicion is that the fall itself caused the severe injuries.

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Our thoughts and prayers are with the boy and his family.