Shocking Incident: Jogger Knocks Pedestrian Into Traffic on Putney Bridge
Early-morning commuters in London saw a terrifying scene play out on Putney Bridge back in May 2017. A jogger, running against the flow along the east sidewalk, suddenly reached out and shoved a 33-year-old woman directly toward the oncoming traffic lane. CCTV footage captures the startled moment — her body stumbles onto the embankment and, in a split second, her momentum almost propels her under a fast-approaching bus.
The bus driver had only a heartbeat to react. He slammed on the brakes and jerked the wheel to the side, missing the woman by mere inches. The events unfolded just steps away from the Putney Bridge tube station, a place packed with people heading into the city for work. Passengers raced off the stopped bus to help the victim, who was dazed and shaken but, incredibly, got away with just minor injuries. For everyone watching, the sense of relief was mixed with shock. It could have ended in disaster in a moment of casual violence from a stranger. Survivors described the atmosphere as tense and surreal, with people comforting the woman and trying to process what they’d witnessed.
The jogger didn’t stick around to check on the woman. He kept running, vanishing across the bridge. But, strangely, around fifteen minutes later, CCTV recorded him jogging back the same way. When the victim tried to confront him, he simply ignored her and ran on. The apparent indifference has left many rattled — the act didn’t seem accidental, and the jogger has not explained his actions to police or the public.
Police Appeal After Nearly Fatal Putney Bridge Attack
Sergeant Mat Knowles from the Metropolitan Police didn’t mince words — he said the woman was put in ‘extreme danger’ and praised the ‘superb quick reactions’ of the bus driver for what was basically a life-saving intervention. Officers released the CCTV footage to the public, hoping someone will recognize the jogger. The images show a slim, athletic-looking white man, dressed in shorts and a T-shirt, running with determined pace across the busy bridge. Detectives say the area would have been full of people during the rush hour, raising the odds that someone saw the man in question.
Police urge anyone who might know the identity of the jogger, or who saw the incident from up close or from passing vehicles, to come forward. They’re focusing on putting together as many eyewitness accounts as possible, given how dangerous the shove was and how much worse it could have been.
For London commuters and residents around Putney Bridge, the incident has become a chilling reminder that even a crowded street in broad daylight is no guarantee of safety. And for many, the quick reflexes of a single bus driver made all the difference during a morning that could have ended in heartbreak.
Write a comment