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Thames boat crash
A Metropolitan Police boat from the Met’s Marine Policing Unit struck Westminster Bridge in central London at about 3.40pm on Friday, 24 July, while responding to a report of a person in the water near Battersea.
“The vessel struck the famous Westminster Bridge, which spans the Thames in the heart of London, at the foot of the British Parliament, on Friday afternoon”
The collision threw three officers into the River Thames, and they were recovered by people on nearby boats as additional officers responded alongside the London Ambulance Service and London Fire Brigade.
The Metropolitan Police said five officers were injured and were receiving treatment, with the force adding it did not believe any members of the public were involved or injured.
The incident occurred close to the Houses of Parliament, with traffic and pedestrians cleared from the bridge before it was taped off by emergency services.
A fire service boat was later seen towing the police boat down the River Thames as a police helicopter and an air ambulance circled above.
Eyewitnesses describe boom
Witnesses described hearing an “explosion” and a “big bang” when the boat crashed into Westminster Bridge, and one eyewitness said the officers were in the water for about ten minutes.
Jim Bagley, visiting the capital from Gloucester, Massachusetts, told the Press Association that “We heard the explosion… the next thing we saw was three people in the water, coming down the river.”
Mateo Bilis-Lusevic, a 12-year-old visiting from Chile, said: “Two boats were riding extremely fast through the water. Suddenly, I heard a boom.”
The Guardian reported that a mother and son, Cecilia Lusevic, 56, and Mateo Bilis-Lusevic, 12, said they heard a loud bang when the police boat crashed, and it quoted Mateo saying “Then three people went flying into the water, and one of the people was really hurt.”
The Metropolitan Police statement said the circumstances of the incident would be “thoroughly reviewed,” while the Port of London Authority said it was supporting the response and managing river traffic.
Injuries and disruption
The Metropolitan Police said five officers were injured and received treatment at the scene before being taken to hospital, and the force added that one has since been discharged.
“- Published Five Metropolitan Police officers have been injured after a police boat struck Westminster Bridge in central London”
Nick John, a Met official, said: “The four officers who remain in hospital have serious but non-life-threatening injuries,” while also thanking those on nearby boats and emergency responders.
Transport for London confirmed that entrances three and four to Westminster Underground station were closed, and it reported that buses and coaches travelling on the bridge were forced to reverse and find another route.
Thames Clippers, which operates Uber Boat, said “some services” may be subject to disruption as a result of the incident, and it reported that Westminster pier was closed until further notice.
The incident also prompted emergency services to mobilise responders, with the London fire brigade saying it was responding to an incident on the #RiverThames near Westminster Bridge alongside partner agencies.
