Wowcher has issued an apology after sending a marketing email with the subject line 'Snap up these deals quicker than a croc can catch a kid!' just days after a three-year-old boy was thrown into a crocodile enclosure at a zoo in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire. The email, sent to millions of customers, promoted an Oceana inflatable kayak ride and a spa experience, sparking widespread outrage on social media.
Incident details
The toddler was attacked on Thursday afternoon at Johnsons of Old Hurst zoo. A man, 30, allegedly grabbed the child and threw him 15 feet into the crocodile pit, breaking his arm and pelvis upon landing on concrete. Tracey Johnson, 55, wife of the zoo owner, jumped into the enclosure to rescue the boy, followed by her husband Andy and another person named Edward. The child was airlifted to Addenbrooke's Hospital and remains in critical but stable condition.
Wowcher's apology
In a statement, a Wowcher spokesperson said: 'We are extremely sorry for an email subject line sent by Wowcher yesterday. The wording was unacceptable. It should never have been written; it was never approved for use.' The company added that it is 'reviewing all scheduled marketing content' and will 'urgently strengthen our creative, approval, and sign-off safeguards'. The spokesperson concluded: 'There is no excuse for this. We apologise unreservedly and will take the necessary steps to make sure this does not happen again.'
Public reaction
Social media users condemned the email as 'appalling' and 'shocking'. Kerry Pealing asked on Facebook: 'Jesus what made them think that was ok!' Caroline Birchall wrote: 'I am utterly disgusted with their post. Someone should be sacked!'
Investigation into the attack
The suspect, who is not known to the boy, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and has been released on bail until September. Police described him as a vulnerable adult with serious learning difficulties, accompanied by two carers at the zoo. He reportedly has hearing difficulties and was 'metres away' from the carers when he grabbed the toddler. A source told The Sun that the carers were allegedly 'on their phones' at the time and 'weren't paying him much attention'. Chris Newman, director of the National Centre for Reptile Welfare, said 'the role of the carers needs to be looked at'. Detective Inspector Verity McCann confirmed: 'Our inquiries are ongoing as we continue to understand the circumstances surrounding this distressing incident.'
