Moment police boat crashes into Westminster Bridge

Sunday, 26 July 2026

Footage from social media appears to show the moment a Metropolitan Police boat crashed into Westminster Bridge.

A group of armed officers were seriously injured when the marine policing unit vessel crashed on Friday afternoon.

The force of the collision, near the Houses of Parliament, threw three of the officers into the river.

Five officers were taken to hospital for treatment, and one has since been discharged. The remaining four suffered serious but non life-threatening injuries.

Footage shared on social media on Saturday shows a black speedboat slicing through the water before veering under Westminster Bridge and smashing into the structure. The boat flips onto its side, with a number of people flung into the water.

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch is investigating the crash. At the time of the incident, the police boat had been responding to a report of a person in the water near Battersea.

Tourists Cecilia Lusevic, 56, and her son Mateo Bilis-Lusevic, 12, were on a Thames tour boat on the north side of the bridge when they saw the incident. They were evacuated from their vessel shortly afterwards.

Mateo said: “Two boats were riding extremely fast through the water. Suddenly, I heard a boom. I was looking towards the boat, and I heard a boom. Then three people went flying into the water and one of the people was really hurt.”

The Met said in a statement: “As a result of the collision, three officers were thrown from the boat into the water. They were recovered by those on nearby boats. Additional officers responded alongside the London Ambulance Service and London Fire Brigade.”

Commander Nick John thanked river users “who came to the aid of the officers, as well as other police and emergency service colleagues who immediately made their way to the scene to assist”.

He said: “The quick thinking and professionalism of all those involved undoubtedly prevented any further injuries.”