The mystery surrounding the infamous Putney Pusher case has finally had a breakthrough after years of investigation and public speculation across the United Kingdom. According to the Daily Mail, a 44-year-old man, who works as a director at a private bank, was arrested by police on Monday, June 15, at his £ 1.4 million home in west London.
On May 5, 2017, at approximately 7.40 am, a 33-year-old woman was walking southwards across Putney Bridge during the morning rush hour, when a jogger approached her from the opposite direction. The outlet noted that there was plenty of room for the man to pass her safely, but he shoved her directly into the path of an oncoming 430 bus instead. The vehicle was traveling at 12mph, and the victim was mere inches away from being struck by the heavy transit bus.
Per the BBC, Sgt Mat Knowles stated at the time, “It was only due to the superb quick reactions of the bus driver that she was not hit by the vehicle.” Oliver Salbris, the driver, swerved, narrowly missing the woman, and then brought the bus to a complete stop. Salbris later reflected on the terrifying moment, telling the Sunday Times, “If I hadn’t swerved, I would have smashed her head. It was reflex. The consequences would have been terrible for her, and for me.”
The jogger ignored the victim and then disappeared, making this a cold case
The Daily Mail reported that the jogger returned across the bridge about 15 minutes later. The victim, who was still being assisted by passers-by, recognized him and called out for him to stop, but he completely ignored her and continued running toward Fulham. CCTV footage of the incident eventually went viral, sparking international headlines and immense public outrage.
Despite the widespread attention, the initial police investigation proved incredibly difficult. The BBC wrote that detectives interviewed more than 50 men and made three initial arrests, including an American investment banker who was ultimately cleared because he was out of the country at the time of the incident. By June 28, 2018, the Metropolitan Police announced that the investigation had been closed, as all lines of inquiry had been exhausted.
The case remained a haunting memory for many, including Salbris. He shared his ongoing struggle with the memory in an interview with the Daily Mail, noting, “I always think about the case and I still drive over Putney Bridge several times a day. Whenever I’m on the bridge, I look very carefully at the pedestrians on the pavement, I just can’t help it. I wouldn’t say it haunts me, but it’s not something I can easily forget.”
The Daily Mail noted that the public fascination with the case even extended into the arts. In 2024, the mystery inspired a play titled Once Upon a Bridge, written by Irish playwright Sonya Kelly and performed at the OSO Arts Centre. While the investigation was officially closed in 2018, new information eventually surfaced that led to the recent arrest.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman provided an update, as recorded by the Daily Mail, on the current situation, stating, “On Monday, 15 June, a 44-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted grievous bodily harm. He was taken to police custody, where he remains. The arrest relates to an incident on 5 May 2017, where a woman was pushed into the path of a bus on Putney Bridge in Putney. Inquiries continue.”
The suspect is reportedly a decorated former British Army officer with familial links to leading European royal dynasties, including the House of Windsor. According to The Daily Mail and The Standard, he is currently being held in police custody. The arrest is being treated as a significant line of inquiry. Authorities have confirmed that the man was arrested on suspicion of attempted grievous bodily harm.
This as-yet-unnamed person isn’t the first person to suddenly push someone else. Earlier this year, a Seattle man allegedly tried to push a person in front of a train, and later claimed his twin did it. In Florida, a TikToker caught the moment a woman walked up to a fisherman and tried to push him into the water, only to fail.
Published: Jun 16, 2026 01:54 pm