A 44-year-old man who was arrested this month in connection with the notorious 2017 “Putney pusher” case has been found dead at a property in Chiswick, west London, the Metropolitan Police have confirmed.
Police response and initial findings
Officers and the London Ambulance Service attended the address on Tuesday evening after concerns for the man’s welfare. He was pronounced dead at the scene; his next of kin have been informed.
“At 19:12hrs on Tuesday, 15 September officers and the London Ambulance Service attended an address in Chiswick, Hounslow after a man was found unresponsive inside a property. Sadly, a 44-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene. His next-of-kin have been informed. At this time his death is being treated as unexpected, but is not believed to be suspicious. A file will be prepared for the coroner in due course.”
The force said the death is being treated as unexpected but added it is not thought to be suspicious. Police will prepare a file for the coroner, a routine step in sudden or unexplained deaths.
Background: the Putney Bridge case
The original incident occurred in 2017 when a woman was shoved into the path of a bus on Putney Bridge. She was 33 at the time and suffered only minor injuries after the bus driver reacted quickly and narrowly avoided a fatal strike.
Following a protracted investigation and widespread public interest, a man was arrested at his west London home on 15 June on suspicion of attempted grievous bodily harm. Last week he was released under investigation, but remained the prime suspect in enquiries that have spanned nearly a decade.
Local reaction and community concerns
Residents in Putney and Chiswick told local reporters they had followed the case closely as police revisited the investigation this year. “You never forget something like that happened on the bridge,” said one commuter who asked not to be named. “It felt like luck she survived — and we all wanted answers.”
Another local added: “There’s a lot of questions now. People will want to know what happens next with the investigation and whether it’s considered closed.”
What happens next legally
Police have indicated the matter will be progressed to the coroner. Separately, where a person dies during an ongoing investigation, forces normally consider whether lines of inquiry need to be altered, including whether any further forensic or witness work is required to complete a file for any future proceedings.
- Incident originally: 2017, woman pushed into path of a bus on Putney Bridge.
- Arrest in 2026: Man arrested on 15 June on suspicion of attempted grievous bodily harm.
- Recent development: Man found unresponsive on 15 September; pronounced dead at the scene.
Timeline
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2017 | Woman pushed into path of bus on Putney Bridge; survived with minor injuries. |
| 2026 (15 June) | Man arrested at west London address on suspicion of attempted grievous bodily harm. |
| 2026 (15 September) | Man found unresponsive in Chiswick; pronounced dead at scene; death treated as unexpected but not suspicious. |
Official statements and next steps
The Met’s brief statement confirmed attendance by officers and the ambulance service and set out the key facts. The force has not indicated whether it will resume or close elements of the original inquiry while the coroner considers the circumstances of this death.
Coroner’s inquests can take several months to open and list a cause of death formally; meanwhile, criminal investigations that intersect with sudden deaths are typically reviewed by detectives and Crown Prosecution Service advisers to determine any further action.
I will continue to seek comment from the Metropolitan Police and publish updates as they become available. Victims’ campaigners and members of the public may ask for clarity about the handling of long-running inquiries when a central figure dies; transparency from authorities will be crucial to answering those concerns.
Anyone with information related to the original 2017 incident or to the recent events is asked to contact the Metropolitan Police through their non-emergency channels.
