Could a play finally help police solve the mystery of the 'Putney Pusher'? Detectives investigating strange case of jogger who pushed stranger under a bus in 2017 hope drama will encourage witnesses to come forward

The detectives that investigated the 'Putney Pusher' incident hope a play about the strange unsolved case of a man shoving a woman under a bus will encourage witnesses to come forward. 

CCTV footage of the jogger casually pushing a pedestrian into the path of a double decker bus on London's Putney Bridge shocked the world when it emerged in May, 2017.

Despite the best efforts of amateur online  detective dissecting the runner's gate, the 'Putney Pusher' was never caught and police eventually closed the case after two arrests and questioning more than 50 suspects a year later in 2018.

The driver of the 430 bus, who managed to avoid the 33-year-old victim by quickly swerving, was hailed as a hero for saving the woman and was the only person to come forward publicly. 

Now, police hope a play telling the story of 'Putney Pusher' this month will shine a new light on the mystery and maybe entice other witnesses to come forward.

Do you know the 'Putney Pusher'? Email dan.grennan@mailonline.co.uk 

Once Upon a Bridge will be told just two miles from the scene of the shocking incident in OSO Arts Centre in Barnes. 

As part of their investigation, police arrested two men in succession who were both released without being charged. 

Artistic director at the OSO, Lydia Sax, told the Guardian: 'I often wonder why that one individual act mattered so much to so many.

'The severity of the attack was part of it, I think. And the fact it was never solved.'

The play tells the story through the perspective of three people involved: the runner, the victim and the driver. 

 The drama, which was written by Sonya Kelly, examines the motives behind such encounters between strangers.

Kelly, who wrote the play over several years, said: 'When you look at the CCTV closely there’s a moment you can freeze-frame where the two figures almost seem to waltz together before he pushes her over. I kept thinking about that'.

'But, in fact, of course, he nearly killed her. He must have known that she fell, but doesn’t look back. 

'He believed he was not being watched. It seems likely he only realised she fell in front of a bus when he saw the video later.

'I decided to watch it as a historical fiction, to look at out changing relationship with justice, anonymity and with consequences.'

As Kelly delved into the world of the 'Putney Pusher', new theories emerged, such as the idea the Met are no convinced of, that the runner must have been a visiting foreign businessman.

The writer urged anyone with information that might be relevant to come forward. 

She added: 'The footage is clear. If he was, say, my cousin I would know him. So if there is somebody watching the play this month, thinking they have more information, I hope they will come forward.'