Nearly ten years ago, a chilling and inexplicable act of violence took place on Putney Bridge in London. On the morning of May 5, 2017, during the busy rush hour, a jogger deliberately shoved a woman into the path of an oncoming double-decker bus. The driver of the bus swerved at the last moment, narrowly missing the woman’s head, and she survived the ordeal, though shaken. Yet, despite the dramatic CCTV footage capturing the attack, the suspect, who became infamously known as the “Putney Pusher,” was never caught.
The incident occurred around 7:40 AM when the woman was walking southward along Putney Bridge. As she crossed paths with the jogger, there was enough space for him to pass by without incident. However, without warning or explanation, the jogger forcefully shoved her into the road. The woman fell backward into the bus lane, directly into the path of the approaching bus. Had it not been for the remarkable quick reflexes of the bus driver, Oliver Salbris, the woman would have likely been struck by the bus. The vehicle, traveling at an estimated speed of 12 miles per hour, missed her head by mere inches.
Despite the traumatic event, the jogger, seemingly without remorse, continued on his run across Putney Bridge, as though nothing had happened. As the bus stopped, several passers-by rushed to assist the woman, who was visibly shaken but largely uninjured. What happened next, however, added a new layer of mystery and frustration to the case: around 15 minutes later, the same jogger reappeared, running in the opposite direction. He passed the woman, who was still being helped on the bridge, but despite her desperate calls for him to stop, he did not acknowledge her and continued running. From that point, the jogger disappeared without a trace, and no one has seen him since.
The incident was caught on CCTV cameras, with one camera showing the jogger from the side, capturing his profile. He was described as a white male in his early to mid-30s, with a stocky build, short brown hair, and wearing a grey T-shirt and dark blue shorts. This footage would later go viral after it was released to the public, sparking worldwide outrage over the seemingly random and callous nature of the attack.
However, despite the shocking nature of the crime, the footage was not made public immediately. It wasn’t until three months later, in August 2017, that the CCTV footage was released. This delay in making the footage available to the public has raised questions about the effectiveness of the investigation. Experts believe that the delay in publicizing the footage may have allowed the assailant to evade capture. It is unclear why there was such a long delay in the release, but some theorize that the police may have initially misclassified the incident as a minor assault rather than a potentially fatal act, which could have led to delays in assigning it to senior detectives and initiating a public appeal.
The public’s outcry over the attack was immediate, and many people came forward with potential leads, offering up more than 50 names of possible suspects. One of the first people to be arrested in connection with the incident was Eric Bellquist, a US investment banker living in London. However, Bellquist was later cleared after providing irrefutable proof that he was in the United States at the time of the attack. Two other men were similarly arrested and later cleared. Despite the numerous tips, the police were unable to make an arrest, and the jogger remained unidentified.
The case prompted further speculation about the identity of the suspect. Many believed that the assailant may have been a wealthy professional or businessman, possibly living near the area. This theory was supported by the fact that the attack occurred in a desirable residential area, which is home to many affluent individuals. The jogger’s demeanor, as seen in the CCTV footage, also suggested that he might fit the profile of a successful professional.
While the investigation initially seemed promising, it ultimately stalled. The police closed the case in 2018, announcing that all leads had been exhausted. Since then, no further progress has been made, and the case remains unsolved. Despite this, public interest in the case has never fully waned. In 2024, a play inspired by the incident was launched, titled Once Upon a Bridge. Written by Irish playwright Sonya Kelly, the play reimagined the attack from the perspectives of the jogger, the victim, and the bus driver. The play served as a reminder of the enduring mystery surrounding the case and the unanswered questions about the identity of the attacker.
The Metropolitan Police has stated that the investigation into the case remains closed, but any new information or evidence that comes to light will be assessed. Despite the passage of time, the case still sparks debate among the public, with some believing that the jogger may still be identified through new technologies, such as AI-enhanced images. However, experts caution that the quality of the original footage may not be sufficient to support such advancements. Even so, the case of the Putney Pusher remains one of the most baffling unsolved crimes in recent memory, and its unresolved nature continues to intrigue and frustrate those who followed the story.
