Putney Pusher suspect was found dead at home after missing family meal, inquest hears

The man who was arrested on suspicion of being the so-called ‘Putney Pusher’ was found dead at his home after missing a family meal, an inquest has heard.Nicholas Brandram, 44, was under suspicion of being the jogger who pushed a woman into the path of a bus during a run on Putney Bridge in west London in May 2017.Opening the inquest, the coroner said: “On the evening of Tuesday September 15 2026, Nicholas did not attend a family meal as planned.“His brother-in-law attended Nicholas’s home address and gained access using a spare key provided by a neighbour.“Upon searching the house, he found Nicholas in an upstairs room.Putney pusher suspect Nicholas Brandram was found dead at his home in Chiswick Central news“Paramedics attended and despite resuscitation, he was pronounced deceased at 8.58pm.”The inquest was also suspended on Tuesday pending the outcome of a police watchdog investigation.In a statement, they said: “There was no forensic evidence linking Nick to it, no evidence placing him on Putney Bridge at that time, and no credible evidence that he was the man shown in the footage. In fact, the evidence proved the opposite.Read More“Despite that, the police chose to arrest Nick rather than invite him to attend for interview. They searched his home, and the Met Police press team then released information which inevitably led to speculation and Nick being identified in subsequent reporting.”Police issued this image as part of their hunt for the ‘Putney Pusher’ PA Archive/PA ImagesThe family added: “For Nick, the consequences did not disappear. He was left for months carrying the stigma of an appalling allegation which the police themselves clearly recognised was unsupported by the evidence.“He lived with the shame, anxiety, humiliation, and extraordinary pressure created by a wholly unnecessary investigation.”They said the police were repeatedly asked to end their investigation and warned about the impact the investigation was having on Mr Brandram’s mental health, saying: “Even then, the investigation was not brought to an end. As a result, Nick is dead.”The force said on September 17 that its investigation into the Putney Bridge incident remains “ongoing” following the death of Mr Brandram.The coroner added that the death had not been considered suspicious and there was “no evidence of third-party involvement”.Ms Lee said provisional results from a post-mortem examination indicated his death was “due to ligature compression of the neck”.The coroner added that an “inquest is not a trial” and “nobody and no organisation is on trial”.Mr Brandram’s sisters, who were present at the inquest, previously accused police of failing him and wider society.The coroner told his family: “I offer my sincere condolences for your loss. I appreciate today will not be an easy day for you”.When life is difficult, Samaritans are available day or night, 365 days a year. You can call them for free on 116 123 or visit samaritans.org.