UK discount voucher site Wowcher has apologised after sending a promotional email that evoked a crocodile attack on a toddler at a zoo. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing The Guardian.
The subject line of the email sent on Saturday read: "Snap up these deals quicker than a croc can catch a kid!" A company spokesperson called the wording "unacceptable" and said it was "extremely sorry."
On Thursday lunchtime, a three-year-old boy ended up in an enclosure with Nile and saltwater crocodiles at Old Hurst zoo in Huntingdonshire. The toddler was taken to Addenbrooke's hospital in Cambridge with serious injuries. He is in a critical but stable condition. A 30-year-old man from Norfolk has been bailed while further inquiries take place.
In a statement, Wowcher said: "It should never have been written, it was never approved for use. The responsibility sits with us and we are urgently reviewing how our processes failed. We recognise the hurt and distress it has caused, particularly for the young child's family at this unimaginably difficult time."
The company said it is reviewing all scheduled marketing content while it urgently strengthens its creative, approval and signoff safeguards. "There is no excuse for this. We apologise unreservedly and will take the necessary steps to make sure this does not happen again," the spokesperson added.
The Times reported that detectives are scrutinising CCTV from the zoo to establish whether they will take further action. The man arrested on suspicion of attempted murder has been released as detectives believe he is not fit to be interviewed. He has been bailed until 18 September. The suspect was not known to the alleged victim.