A three-year-old boy who suffered critical injuries after “ending up” in a crocodile enclosure has undergone his seventh surgery, his family have revealed.The boy, who has not been identified, is now stable following the incident but has been a patient at Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge for four weeks.His family has said the tot has undergone a nerve graft on his left arm and they hope it will help him to regain function in his hand.They also revealed he had undergone a gruelling 12-hour surgery shortly after the incident in which he suffered severe tissue damage in both his arms, neck, head and face.Johnsons of Old HurstPolice were they were called to Johnson’s of Old Hurst, near Huntingdon on June 18 and a 30-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.Detectives said the boy and the man were not known to each other and the latter was released on bail after being deemed unfit for interview.In a statement, the boy’s family said: “Today (July 15) our son had his seventh surgery. In that surgery the surgeons completed a nerve graft on his left arm.”They harvested a nerve from his leg to replace part of the nerve that was missing in his left arm.”Over time, this nerve will hopefully embed and help our son to regain some function in his left hand.”We won’t know whether the nerve graft has been successful until tests can be carried out in a few months time.”Tomorrow marks four weeks of being in the hospital.”Shortly after we arrived on the 18th of June, our son underwent a 12 hour surgery where the surgeons performed miraculous things, they were faced with tendon damage, nerve damage, blood vessel damage, broken bones and severe tissue damage in both his arms, neck, head and face.”Those were the worst 12 hours of our lives as before that we were signing consent forms involving resuscitation and amputation.We were unsure if our son was going to make it and that was the worst feeling in the world.”4 weeks later and the cheeky little boy that we love so much is talking to the nurses, playing using his feet and smiling again.”We are amazed at how far he has come.”We are not at the end of our journey but are hopeful that today’s surgery will be the last for now which means if everything goes well we will be able to go home soon.”Owner Tracey Johnson, 55, dashed into the crocodile pen to retrieve the boy despite the presence of at least two large Nile crocodiles.Chris Newman, 67, director of the National Centre for Reptile Welfare, described Tracey as “a very courageous and brave lady”.A GoFundMe has been set up to support the boy’s recovery and rehabilitation, as well as to provide the family with financial stability while they support him in hospital and throughout the coming months. It has so far raised more than £85,000.Continue Reading
Boy attacked by crocodile at Cambridgeshire zoo has seventh surgery
