A three-year-old boy who was injured after being thrown into a zoo crocodile enclosure has returned home following extensive hospital treatment.

The toddler was discharged from Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridgeshire a few weeks ago after undergoing a series of complex operations. In an update shared yesterday, his parents confirmed he is back with his family, writing that he is "happy to be home, playing with his toys, sleeping in his own bed and being a big brother".

It has been an arduous medical journey for the young boy. Over the course of his recovery, he has undergone seven separate surgical procedures. His grandmother shared that his most recent operation involved surgeons replacing a damaged nerve in his arm with one taken from his leg to help him regain control of his left hand.

The full extent of his injuries was revealed shortly after the incident on 18 June, when he sustained a broken pelvis and broken arm. His parents recalled facing an agonising 12-hour surgery immediately upon arrival at hospital, where medical teams treated severe tissue damage across his arms, neck, head, and face, alongside tendon, nerve, and blood vessel damage.

Writing about those initial hours, his parents said: "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."

The boy's progress since then has been steady. With both arms injured, the hospital's children's play team helped him adapt by inventing new games and teaching him how to use his feet in play, while nursing staff provided superhero costumes to keep his spirits up on the ward.

The incident occurred at around 1.30pm on 18 June while the boy was visiting the zoo with his mother and younger sibling. The zoo stated at the time that staff were alerted to reports that a child had allegedly been thrown into one of their crocodile enclosures, after which emergency services were called and the toddler was rushed to hospital.

A 30-year-old man from Norfolk was arrested in connection with the incident, but police later released him on bail after determining he was not fit for a police interview. It is understood the man has learning difficulties and was visiting the zoo on a trip with carers when the incident took place.

To help the family cope with the aftermath, the boy's grandmother set up a GoFundMe appeal to provide financial stability and support his recovery. That campaign has now raised close to £115,000.

His parents confirmed the donations have been used to cover mortgage payments, household bills, and lost earnings while they were away from work caring for their son. They have also used the funds to purchase new toys for the paediatric intensive care unit and the play team at Addenbrooke's.

Further funds are being donated to The Sick Children's Trust, a charity that provides on-site accommodation for families of children in intensive care, alongside planned contributions to the Addenbrooke's Charitable Trust to support the staff who looked after the boy.

What we don't know yet is the timeline for the boy's full long-term rehabilitation or what further steps police will take regarding the investigation. I'll be following this one — check back for updates.