Putney Pusher

Status:

Open

Jurisdiction:

Metropolitan Police (LONDON)

Missing From:

London, England

Summary:

On May 5, 2017, an unidentified male jogger pushed a 33-year-old woman into the path of a double-decker bus on Putney Bridge in London. The bus driver swerved and the woman survived with minor injuries. The suspect, known as the 'Putney Pusher,' was captured on CCTV footage but has never been identified. The Metropolitan Police closed the investigation in June 2018 after exhausting all lines of inquiry.

Vital Statistics

Circumstances of Offense:

On the morning of May 5, 2017, at approximately 7:40 am, a woman was walking on the pedestrian path on the east side of Putney Bridge heading toward Putney Bridge Tube Station. A male jogger, running in the opposite direction, deliberately pushed the woman forcefully into the road and directly into the path of a number 430 double-decker bus traveling at approximately 12 miles per hour. The bus driver, Oliver Salbris, reacted quickly and swerved the vehicle, narrowly avoiding hitting the woman's head. The bus stopped and passengers got off to assist the victim, who sustained only minor injuries. The jogger continued running without stopping. Approximately 15 minutes later, the same man ran back across the bridge in the opposite direction. The victim recognized him and attempted to speak to him, but he ignored her and continued jogging toward Fulham.

Additional Details:

The incident was captured on CCTV footage from multiple camera angles, including from the bus itself. However, the Metropolitan Police did not release the footage to the public until August 2017, three months after the incident. When the video was finally released in August, it sparked immediate public outrage regarding the delay and generated numerous tips. On August 10, 2017, police arrested 41-year-old Eric Bellquist at his home in Chelsea, West London, after he was identified by several callers based on the CCTV footage. Bellquist, originally from the United States and employed as an investment banker at Hutton Collins Partners, claimed he was on vacation in California at the time of the incident. His legal team provided evidence confirming he was in the United States on May 5, 2017, and he was released on bail. Investigation of his MapMyRun profile revealed his regular running route was from Sloane Square to Battersea Park, miles away from Putney Bridge. On August 12, 2017, a second man, age 41, was arrested and interviewed at a south London police station but was released the same day. A third man from Aberdeen was also arrested and quickly released without charges. The Metropolitan Police investigated over 50 persons of interest during the course of the investigation, but all were researched, reviewed, and eventually eliminated. The investigation reached a standstill, and the case was officially closed in June 2018 after all lines of inquiry were exhausted. In 2024 and 2025, the case gained renewed attention through theatrical adaptations and continued media coverage, with investigators and the public expressing concern that the perpetrator may still pose a potential threat.

Case Last Updated:

Apr 13, 2026