The family of Nicholas Brandram have insisted that he was not the “Putney pusher”.
Mr Brandram “took his own life after months of immense pressure caused by a Metropolitan Police investigation”, they said.
The 44-year-old banker was found dead at his property in Chiswick, west London, on Tuesday.
The Met Police said that the death was being treated as “unexpected”, and was not believed to be suspicious.
Mr Brandram’s family said there was no forensic evidence linking the 44-year-old banker to the 2017 incident, in which a jogger shoved a woman headfirst into the path of an oncoming bus on Putney Bridge in south-west London.
The bus swerved to avoid her, and the woman, who was 33 at the time, suffered a few minor injuries.
In a statement released on Thursday, Mr Brandram’s family said that there was “no evidence placing him on Putney Bridge at that time, and no credible evidence that he was the man shown in the footage”.
The evidence in fact proved the opposite, they said.
”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.”
The 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.”
If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI) or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.
If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org to access online chat from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you.
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