Yahoo News Hero bus driver reveals Putney Bridge jogger 'rugby tackled' woman onto the road
The bus driver who swerved his double-decker bus out of the way at the last minute to avoid hitting a woman who had been pushed into the road has spoken about the incident for the first time.
Olivier Salbris was hailed a “total hero” by Good Morning Britain (GMB) presenter Susanna Reid for his actions, after the female pedestrian was nearly killed on Putney Bridge, west London.
The 33-year-old victim was shoved onto the road by an unidentified jogger in May – right into the path of the bus.
But Mr Salbris’ quick-thinking managed to avoid tragedy – and now he has spoken about the man who is being sought by police.
Asked whether he thought the shove was an accident, he told GMB: “Difficult to say whether it was an accident because the guy passed another man and then went on to the lady – but I do think it was deliberate.”
He said the actions of the jogger were that of a “rugby man” and nodded when asked whether it looked like the man had rugby tackled the woman.
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He added: “She was just in his way – that’s why he did it.”
Speaking about the moments leading up to the incident, Mr Salbris revealed he was driving at just 12mph – and that a fatal collision might have occurred had he been going faster.
He said: “If she had died I would have had to live with a weight on my shoulders for the rest of my life.
“This man needs to be caught so he can explain himself, it all happened so quickly, I am just glad I was able to react in time because who knows what would have happened if I didn’t.”
The suspect is described as white, in his early to mid-30s, with brown eyes and short brown hair and was wearing a light grey T-shirt and dark blue shorts.
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
