The driver of the bus which narrowly avoided crashing into a woman after she was shoved in front of its path by a jogger on Putney Bridge has urged the public to help find the man responsible.
Oliver Salbris claims the "Putney Pusher", as the jogger is now known, knew what he was doing and must be caught.
The driver was praised by police for his quick reflexes and evasive action when he managed to steer his double-decker around the 33-year-old woman, coming within inches of crashing into her head.
Speaking for the first time since the incident on May 5 this year, Mr Salbris urged police to find the mystery jogger, who he claimed acted deliberately.
Putney Bridge incident
He told The Sunday Times the woman would have almost certainly been killed as his bus “would have smashed her head” had he not had a “reflex”.
He said: “He looked like he was doing it on purpose. He needs to be caught.
“I thought I was going to touch her - if I hadn’t swerved, I would have smashed her head. It was reflex.”
Mr Salbris said he checked on the traumatised victim to give her support in the wake of the terrifying ordeal.
He added: “She was just in shock. She was crying. I offered her my help. I gave her a note with the bus number, my route and my name and garage and my phone number.”
The woman had been crossing the Thames and heading towards Putney Bridge Station in Fulham at around 7.40am when she was shoved over, sustaining minor injuries.
Police have previously said the jogger was approached by the alleged victim when he returned the other way around 15 minutes later, but he did not acknowledge her and carried on running.
Two men had been arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm but have since been released without charge .
Detectives are still investigating and have urged anyone with information or witnesses to come forward.
The jogger is described as white, in his 30s, with brown eyes and short brown hair. He was wearing a light grey T-shirt and dark blue shorts.
A Met Police spokesman said: “Officers continue to appeal for witnesses to the incident or anyone who recognises the jogger pictured on CCTV to get in touch.
“There has been a positive public response to the appeal so far with a range of information provided to investigating officers.
“Some people have simply put forward possible names for the suspect; officers would urge those people to please contact police or Crimestoppers again with as much information as they have so they can follow up those lines of enquiry.”
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