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3 year old injured by crocodiles - man arrested

409 replies

DecisionTime123 · 18/06/2026 19:18

So I assume the man deliberately placed the child into the crocodile enclosure. Psychopath? Sounds similar to the man who threw the boy off the Tate?

(And also, not connected but these places are shit for the animals and should be shut down)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czx50n2vj74o

(& apologies if thread already started?)

A crocodile with its mouth open  in an enclosure near a wooden walkway going through the centre

Man arrested after boy injured in zoo crocodile enclosure

A 30-year-old man has been arrested after a child ended up in a crocodile enclosure at a farm zoo.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czx50n2vj74o

OP posts:
XenoBitch · 18/06/2026 23:03

Honeyhonay · 18/06/2026 22:42

No, they didn’t say that actually. The posts suggested someone had a history of violent tendencies that present a risk to others then there are times it’s not suitable to be out in public settings.
Point out one comment that simply said disabled people shouldn’t be allowed out?

Your comment is making even less sense in the wider context. If you’re admitting that minor things like the noise of a small child are a known trigger for someone’s violent tendencies, yet at the same time you think there should never be any restrictions on who this dangerous person is allowed around?
If something as simple as a child making noise is enough for a grown man to pick the child up and throw them into a crocodile enclosure then there have been serious failures to allow this violent person around vulnerable children who haven’t consented int the first place.

Edited

No one knows if this person had a history of violent tendencies.
And you can not and should not lock someone away based on something that has not happened or not predicted.

There is a first time for everything.

Honeyhonay · 18/06/2026 23:04

XenoBitch · 18/06/2026 22:55

Parents on here reading that you think their SN kids should be locked up... actual MN members reading those comments.

I doubt the parents of the boy injured today are even online.

Weird minimising again.
I dare say there are a great many more people directly impacted by the hurt cause by attempted murder of a 3 year old than merely his parents.

Someone not reading a comment made about them doesn’t make it less shitty.

XenoBitch · 18/06/2026 23:05

StressedSupportWorker · 18/06/2026 22:44

I'm going to put a fiver on that, and another quid on the support worker(s)/carer(s) for the day being agency workers due to high turnover of permanent staff at this man's care setting.

If it turns out they were permanent contracted staff, I'll put a fiver on those staff members already being known to use their mobile phones constantly on shift, but no action had been taken by management because it was too much effort.

Same, and your name is apt right now.

lornad00m · 18/06/2026 23:05

Surely if you've read something in the ether that suggests more information than is currently being reported in the MSM you could provide links to support your claims?

Otherwise some people might come to the conclusion that you're talking bs and speculating for your own amusement.

LovelyCrocus · 18/06/2026 23:07

My old neighbour used to work at a special needs school, she said two of the pupils really made her uneasy.

One was a boy of 16 who had autism and a personality disorder. He used to say he wanted to shoot people and specify the type of gun he wanted to use. She said the most unsettling part of this was that he was utterly cold & calm when speaking. He was capable in all other ways so used to walk to school on his own. She said she wondered if he had these thoughts when out alone in public. He’d be an adult in his early 20s now, so likely living alone or in supported accommodation. I can’t imagine he’d be considered worrying enough to have carers living with him unless he did actually kill. By which time it would be too late.

The other boy she said was frightening was a year or so older (the school went up to 19) and non-verbal. He was about 6’ tall and very heavy set. He had a carer accompanying him wherever he went in school as he was unpredictable and prone to violence. He never actually went to lessons, just wandered round the corridors all day. The staff didn’t attempt to take him to lessons in case that caused a violent outburst. He also wore a waist restraint with soft cuffs at all times. I think the carers had to feed him because he couldn’t be trusted to have his hands released. Whenever my neighbour saw him she said he kept clenching and unclenching his hands which she found deeply unsettling.

I would hope the second lad is never allowed out alone as an adult, and probably not unrestrained either. He already has a history of unpredictable violent behaviour. But reading some of these replies I can see that numerous posters would still support someone who was considered so violent when a child at school that he had to wear a restraint all day, should have no restrictions put on his liberty as an adult whatsoever.

The first boy, well, we just have to hope he was all talk, don’t we? And if he ever does decide to kill or injure someone just keep your fingers crossed that he’s living nowhere near you.

XenoBitch · 18/06/2026 23:09

Britneyfan · 18/06/2026 22:51

@XenoBitch pretty sure there are some people on mumsnet who just enjoy deliberately misunderstanding and being contrary. Having said that, I will agree she probably has a point about it being unfair on the family to suggest the child’s parents’ supervision of their child could have been a factor. I actually hadn’t realised it was you who’d said that, thought it was someone else. I can’t imagine how upsetting that would be to read if you were the parents, and like you say it’s so hard to have your eyes on a 3 year old at all times especially if they’re in an e closed space you perceive as safe, so I do get that aspect of things. But I’m with you on everything else you said!

Thank for understanding.
What really happened will come out, and this whole thread is speculation anyway.
I hope the little lad makes a full recovery, and the zoo's reputation is not harmed. From the comments I have seen on FB, everyone is defending the zoo and says what a lovely place it is.
This sounds like a rare and tragic incident.

RedToothBrush · 18/06/2026 23:12

BertieBotts · 18/06/2026 22:41

If you follow the thread history back to the start of this quote chain, I am responding to the original statement that the zoo ought to have "separate visiting hours for those with severe MH / SN" which I think is an appalling suggestion.

Quite apart from anything else it suggests that it wouldn't matter if another person with MH difficulties or LD was injured, as long as the "normal" people are safe.

I know you didn't say that, but you are replying in agreement with it and I happened to pick your response on the comment chain because it was the most recent at the time that I posted.

The original comment was not referring to this specific (alleged) man, it was referring to all people with MH problems or LD.

We don't know if any of the things suggested would have prevented the incident, we won't know that until any hearing or inquiry is completed.

The other visitors will their own issues will be even more at risk with this suggestion. If the person isn't manageable with others why are they somehow more manageable around even more vulnerable guests? Or do they cease to be important.

XenoBitch · 18/06/2026 23:12

BeardySchnauzer · 18/06/2026 22:52

Why is the suggestion for having special times for an adults so bad? Isn’t it like supermarkets having special sessions for people who are easily overwhelmed? If a proper risk assessment shows that someone would struggle with the noise of young children etc then a special session would be perfect

also, if it turns out he has LD and needed carers then he has also been let down as he has clearly been put in a situation that wasn’t great for him and now with the police and then press attention he is likely to end up in a very bad place.

The sessions supermarkets have are great. But anyone with SN/ND can go to them, or they can go to the supermarket the rest of times.
You are saying that anyone with MH/ND should only be allowed to go at certain times.

StressedSupportWorker · 18/06/2026 23:16

XenoBitch · 18/06/2026 23:05

Same, and your name is apt right now.

Colleagues on their phones are the main cause of my workplace stress.

XenoBitch · 18/06/2026 23:17

StressedSupportWorker · 18/06/2026 23:16

Colleagues on their phones are the main cause of my workplace stress.

I can imagine.

BeardySchnauzer · 18/06/2026 23:19

XenoBitch · 18/06/2026 23:12

The sessions supermarkets have are great. But anyone with SN/ND can go to them, or they can go to the supermarket the rest of times.
You are saying that anyone with MH/ND should only be allowed to go at certain times.

No I wasn’t - I said having special sessions is a good thing. Never said they should be the only thing

XenoBitch · 18/06/2026 23:20

BeardySchnauzer · 18/06/2026 23:19

No I wasn’t - I said having special sessions is a good thing. Never said they should be the only thing

Ah ok, maybe I responded to the wrong person. Apologies.

A PP said that ND/SN should only be allowed to go at certain times. Which is vile.

HumberSquid · 18/06/2026 23:36

Taking an autistic adult to see wild animals was a bloody stupid thing to do.

That's a pretty wild take @AllaFieraDellEst . Autistic adults are quite a varied bunch. My bil for instance, is not only autistic but married with 3 children and his own engineering firm. He can take himself to see wild animals (last week he took his family to the zoo fi).

XenoBitch · 18/06/2026 23:38

HumberSquid · 18/06/2026 23:36

Taking an autistic adult to see wild animals was a bloody stupid thing to do.

That's a pretty wild take @AllaFieraDellEst . Autistic adults are quite a varied bunch. My bil for instance, is not only autistic but married with 3 children and his own engineering firm. He can take himself to see wild animals (last week he took his family to the zoo fi).

My DP is autistic. I guess I need to tell him tomorrow that he is not allowed to go to zoos.

StressedSupportWorker · 18/06/2026 23:43

It's a pretty standard Big Day Out for going out in the community. I promise that none of my past or current charges posed any risk to others on the zoo trips. They needed/need carers to protect them from unscrupulous people, not to protect the public from them.

XenoBitch · 18/06/2026 23:46

StressedSupportWorker · 18/06/2026 23:43

It's a pretty standard Big Day Out for going out in the community. I promise that none of my past or current charges posed any risk to others on the zoo trips. They needed/need carers to protect them from unscrupulous people, not to protect the public from them.

I made that point well upthread.. that people have carers to protect them, not to stop them being violent and being a threat to others.
But some just don't get it.

BertieBotts · 18/06/2026 23:54

Happytaytos · 18/06/2026 22:51

That's not the way I read the comment. I read it that there would be no small children there, so if that was a risk factor for someone to cause harm, that risk factor is eliminated.

It would also mean that all people there would be a similar age, meaning less disparity in strength. Obviously men and women have physical differences, but again, minimises some risk.

An SEN/MH adult session would presumably still need carers to attend without SEN/MH so not sure your point about "normal" people stands either.

What about small children with SEN? The original comment did not specify adults.

This is the way I interpreted the comment - that people with mental health difficulties, or SEN (which could include young children) are inherently dangerous and must be kept separate from people without those issues.

I find this offensive because there is nothing inherent in MH difficulties or SN which makes people dangerous. And indeed there are people who are dangerous, who do not have any such issues at all.

But there is this general belief and fear around difference and difficulty and I think that is harmful, and dangerous in itself. Often (and I am NOT referring to this specific incident, which does seem indefensible) aggressive behaviour is a fear or distress response. People in general being afraid or wary of somebody who acts in a way which is different to the norm are more likely to try to control or restrict, which is more likely to provoke a distress or fear response, which may be aggressive. Overall, segregation, demonisation and fear is unhelpful and makes situations more dangerous for everybody. Again, I do not think it is likely this is what happened in this case. I just think we all need to remember that the vast majority of people would never act this way in a million years, and it is not helpful to jump to a conclusion that is harmful and degrading to a group of people who already suffer from stigma and misunderstanding.

BertieBotts · 18/06/2026 23:58

Inastatus · 18/06/2026 21:41

So awful. They should consider having separate visiting hours for severely mentally ill/sn.

Here is the original quote BTW. I understand the app doesn't always show the whole chain, or something.

XenoBitch · 19/06/2026 00:17

This reply has been deleted

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Sweetpeasaremadeforbees · 19/06/2026 00:26

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

You are joking? He's in a critical condition, we have no idea if he will survive to be a 10 year old. Sometimes this place disgusts me.

XenoBitch · 19/06/2026 00:31

Sweetpeasaremadeforbees · 19/06/2026 00:26

You are joking? He's in a critical condition, we have no idea if he will survive to be a 10 year old. Sometimes this place disgusts me.

Sorry, what was I meant to say instead.
He might end up making light of the situation. Who knows. You don't. I bet his family will not be dragging him down about it.
Kids are resielent, and make the most of shitty situations.

metellaestinatrio · 19/06/2026 05:20

XenoBitch · 18/06/2026 21:29

I think it sad that a disabled person will lose their freedom and liberates... not due to a crime but because of the utter failure of the people caring for them.

But there has been a crime - he’s been arrested for attempted murder. He may only be charged with manslaughter due to reduced mental capacity, but that is still a crime. Part of the reason people are locked up is for protection of the public. If this man had two carers and is still attacking small children it is not safe for him to be out in public.

metellaestinatrio · 19/06/2026 05:29

XenoBitch · 18/06/2026 21:47

Did they know he was a danger to children? What were the parents doing?

We don't know what happened there.

As an example, the child could have been running up and down the walkway shouting. The person could have found the noise overwhelming, and acted out by picking the child up and throwing them over the barrier.
Or they might have overheard the kid say they love crocodiles, and threw them over so they could see them.
Both a bit mad, I admit, but entirely plausible.
But we don't know.

All we all know is someone threw a kid over the railing. Everything else is speculation until the facts come out.

So now you’re blaming the child’s parents, and/or the child himself, rather than the person who actually threw him ober the edge into the enclosure? Unbelievable. If someone is so triggered by a child shouting that they commit attempted murder they should not be allowed out to an attraction where children will be. Jesus.

metellaestinatrio · 19/06/2026 05:32

XenoBitch · 18/06/2026 21:48

Why are you assuming that anyone with SN is harmful to children.
They often have the mental age of a child themselves.

Yes and that is the problem. The mental age of a child but the strength of a grown man. A three year old might push another three year old, but no harm will come. If a 30 year old pushes a three year old, they can cause serious harm.

Empress13 · 19/06/2026 05:39

Horrific! Am interested to know the full facts of what actually happened . How he got so close to the child where the parents were etc . That poor child

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