Inquiry into care of Norfolk man arrested after crocodile attack

A local authority has launched an investigation into the care of a man arrested after a three-year-old boy was seriously injured in a crocodile enclosure.

The boy was attacked by at least one of the animals at Johnsons of Old Hurst near Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, on 18 June. His family said he had subsequently undergone surgery five times and faces lengthy rehabilitation.

Police arrested and bailed a 30-year-old man from Norfolk on suspicion of attempted murder.

Norfolk County Council – which did not itself provide any care for the man – has launched the inquiry under the Care Act 2014, which requires local authorities to investigate risks to any adults who have care and support needs.

Cambridgeshire Police said it was called to the zoo at about 13:30 BST on the day of the attack.

The boy, from Cambridgeshire, was visiting the zoo with his family. He remains in Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, where he is stable.

The arrested man is believed to have learning disabilities and was on a trip to the zoo with carers. He is not believed to have known the child.

The man was released on bail until 18 September, and police said he was “assessed as not being fit for interview”.

A spokesperson for the county council said: “The individual in question is not receiving any care provided, commissioned or paid for by Norfolk County Council.”

A Section 42 inquiry is a statutory safeguarding process under the Care Act to protect adults with care and support needs from abuse or neglect.

The Care Quality Commission said it was aware of the incident and was “liaising with the organisations involved” in a bid to find out whether there was any regulatory action it needed to take.

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