Five police officers sustained injuries when their patrol boat collided with Westminster Bridge on Friday afternoon. The incident occurred around 3:45 p.m. when the rigid inflatable boat, responding to reports of a person in the water further up the river, struck a pillar of the bridge.
Four of the officers suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries and were taken to the hospital after receiving initial treatment from paramedics at the scene. A fifth officer was treated at a hospital and later discharged. No members of the public were reported injured.
Video footage captured the moments after the collision, showing waves rising as officers were thrown into the River Thames. Bystanders on nearby boats, including an Uber Boat service, assisted in rescuing the officers from the water. RNLI responders were also present, providing treatment to casualties.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed the incident, with Commander Nick John thanking the river users who aided the officers and acknowledging the challenging circumstances. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch is leading a probe into the incident, with support from the Met Police.
Eyewitness accounts described hearing a loud "boom" or "explosion" at the time of the collision. Visitors from Chile and a couple from Massachusetts reported seeing two police boats traveling at speed before the black patrol boat struck the bridge. One witness suggested the boat may have been caught in the wake of another vessel that had passed under the bridge moments earlier.
The collision caused traffic disruption in the area, with police cordons established and bus services on the bridge temporarily rerouted. Westminster Underground station entrances were also temporarily closed.
A fire service boat was later seen towing the damaged police boat away from the scene. The incident led to cancellations and delays for some Uber Boat by Thames Clippers services.