LONDON — A Metropolitan Police boat struck Westminster Bridge in the heart of London on Friday, hurling officers overboard into the River Thames and leaving five crew members injured, according to the Metropolitan Police.
Emergency responders tended to the injured aboard a black inflatable vessel while a police helicopter circled above the scene, which unfolded near the famous clock tower housing the bell known as Big Ben.
The exact circumstances surrounding the crash — including what the boat was doing at the time — remained unclear, though the Metropolitan Police confirmed the incident would undergo a full and thorough review.
One eyewitness to the dramatic scene was Mateo Bilis-Lusevic, a 12-year-old visiting from Chile, who happened to be aboard a nearby tour boat with his mother when the crash occurred.
“Two boats were riding extremely fast through the water,” he recalled. “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 young visitor estimated that the officers remained in the water for roughly 10 minutes, with at least one person thrown a life ring to stay afloat.
Authorities had no immediate details on the full extent of the injuries. Police indicated they did not believe any members of the public were involved or hurt in the collision.
Westminster Bridge was shut down to vehicle traffic as a large crowd of onlookers gathered to watch emergency responders — including ambulances and fire crews — work at the scene. Authorities eventually cleared spectators from the bridge.
A spokesperson for the Port of London Authority stated the agency was assisting in managing river traffic and coordinating efforts alongside the Metropolitan Police and the Coastguard.
