'Putney Pusher' Suspect Nicholas Brandram Found Dead Nine Years After Woman Was Shoved Into Traffic

Nicholas Brandram, the banker arrested earlier this year on suspicion of being the so‑called 'Putney Pusher', has been found dead at his home in west London, nine years after a woman was shoved into the path of a bus on Putney Bridge. The 44‑year‑old was discovered unresponsive at a property in Chiswick on Tuesday, 15 September 2026.

The Metropolitan Police said his death was being treated as unexpected but not believed to be suspicious. A file will be prepared for the coroner.

Brandram had been arrested in June on suspicion of attempted grievous bodily harm in connection with the 2017 incident. He was later released under investigation as detectives continued to examine the case. He had not been charged in connection with the attack.

The 2017 Putney Bridge Attack

The incident took place on 5 May 2017, when a 33‑year‑old woman was walking across Putney Bridge in south‑west London.

CCTV footage showed a jogger approaching the woman from behind before apparently pushing her into the path of an oncoming double‑decker bus. The driver, Oliver Salbris, reacted quickly and swerved, narrowly avoiding hitting the woman.

The woman suffered minor injuries, but the footage attracted widespread attention after it was released publicly. Police said at the time that the driver's quick reactions prevented potentially much more serious consequences.

The jogger was also filmed continuing across the bridge. According to the Metropolitan Police's original investigation, he returned around 15 minutes later and passed the woman as she was receiving assistance.

Despite extensive efforts to identify him, the investigation initially failed to establish who was responsible. Police interviewed more than 50 men and arrested three suspects before the investigation was closed in 2018 without anyone being charged.

Nicholas Brandram Arrested Nine Years Later

The case was reopened years later, eventually leading to Brandram's arrest at his west London home on 15 June 2026. The Metropolitan Police said the arrest related specifically to the 5 May 2017 incident and that the man, then aged 44, was being investigated on suspicion of attempted grievous bodily harm.

Brandram was subsequently released while enquiries continued. The investigation remained unresolved when he was found dead. His death leaves the identity of the person captured in the original CCTV footage unresolved, unless further evidence emerges.

Who Was Nicholas Brandram?

Brandram was a former British Army captain who served in Iraq, Bosnia and Afghanistan before moving into financial services. He later worked for firms including Killik & Co and Bank Leumi UK before joining HSBC, where he worked in private banking.

He was also connected to the British royal family through his ancestry. Brandram was the grandson of Princess Katherine of Greece and Denmark, making him a descendant of Queen Victoria. His military service was recognised with the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012.

'Putney Pusher' Mystery Still Unsolved

The 'Putney Pusher' case became one of London's most widely discussed unsolved attacks after the CCTV footage circulated online.

The incident was later adapted into the play 'Once Upon a Bridge', written by Sonya Kelly, which explored the events from the perspectives of the runner, the woman who was pushed and the bus driver. When the play opened in 2024, the Metropolitan Police continued to appeal for information that could help identify the person responsible.

Brandram's death now becomes part of the long‑running investigation. However, because he was never charged or convicted, his arrest and subsequent death do not establish that he was the person shown in the CCTV footage.

For now, the Metropolitan Police investigation into the 2017 incident remains a case without a proven perpetrator, while the circumstances surrounding Brandram's death will be considered by the coroner.