A PENSIONER has died after the bus he was on braked suddenly, causing him to fall and hit his head.

Albert Charles Bates, 87, was travelling on a route 158 along Billet Road in Walthamstow when the tragedy happened at around 10.20am on Monday September 19.

He passed away due to his injuries four days later (Friday September 23) at 1.10pm.

Police have today made public the incident as part of an appeal for witnesses to come forward.

Mr Bates, of Cecil Road in Walthamstow, was standing on the lower deck preparing to get off at his stop when the bus came to a sudden halt just after the Crooked Billet roundabout.

The bus, which had come from Chingford, was taken out of service and a number of passengers were moved to a replacement bus.

A man aged in his late 20s has been arrested in connection with the incident and has been bailed until January.

The police refused to reveal any further details about the arrested person, or what they were held on suspicion of.

A Met spokesman said: "Police are appealing to anyone either travelling on the bus, walking past or other motorists to come forward if they have any information regarding this matter.

"Please contact detective constable Mandy Powell at the Road Death Investigation Unit at Chadwell Heath Garage on 020 8597 4874."

It is believed that the police delay in making the information public is due to "operational reasons".

The 158 bus runs between Chingford Mount and Stratford, passing through Walthamstow and Leyton on the way.

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