The family of a three-year-old boy allegedly thrown into a crocodile enclosure at a UK zoo have issued a heartbreaking update.

They say they have been "living at the hospital" for the past two weeks as their boy has had five surgeries. The youngster reportedly plunged 15ft onto a concrete walkway before being bitten by a crocodile at Johnsons of Old Hurst in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire.

The incident occurred on June 18 and since then the family has issued several updates about the incident. Most recently they confirmed that the three-year-old had required nerve reconstruction surgery in his arm. The family has since released a statement on GoFundMe regarding the boy's recovery.

In a statement, they said: "We are extremely grateful for everyone’s generosity. We could never thank you enough for the support you have given our family in this horrible time.

"We have been living at the hospital for 2 weeks now and our son has undergone 5 surgeries. At this moment in time we know that our son is to undergo at least two more surgeries, one of those surgeries being a nerve reconstruction in his arm.

"These last two weeks have been a very uncertain and unsettling time. This uncertainty remains as we still don’t know the extent of his feeling, movement and function in both of his arms, wrists and hands.

"This will only be identified after casts and bandages are able to be removed and he can begin his rehabilitation journey. His rehabilitation journey is uncertain but we do know that it won’t be a short process."

A 30-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder shortly after the incident but was later bailed. Police stated the man was "assessed as being not fit for interview". It is believed the man from Norfolk had been at the zoo on a trip and was accompanied by carers.

The owners of Johnsons of Old Hurst zoo, Andy and Tracey Johnson, also spoke out about the "distressing" incident for the first time this week. The pair thanked their staff, emergency services and heroic visitors for their swift action in rescuing the boy.

"Everyone who was on site that day acted with incredible speed and determination. Within minutes of the first radio call, the child had been rescued from the enclosure and was receiving first aid," they said in a statement.

“The emergency services arrived very quickly, supported by the MAGPAS Air Ambulance, and we cannot thank them enough for their professionalism, compassion and dedication in such difficult circumstances."

The Johnson's added: "We are immensely proud of our own staff, who responded without hesitation and did everything they could to help and support the child until the emergency services took over.

"The kindness we have received from our local community and from people across the country has been overwhelming. Every message of support, every kind word and every expression of concern has meant a great deal to our family and our team during an incredibly difficult time.

“Thank you for standing with us. Above all, our thoughts remain with the young boy and his family. We continue to hope and pray for his speedy recovery and ask that they are given the privacy, compassion and support they need at this time.”