Time lost in bid to save terror victim

Vital minutes were lost in the battle to save a victim of the Westminster terror attack as she was held face down in water, an inquest has heard.

Andreea Cristea, 31, had plunged into the Thames after being hit by Khalid Masood’s car as she walked on Westminster Bridge.

Despite an emergency distress signal and shouts for help, skipper Danny Cooper initially thought Ms Cristea’s body was “garbage”. CCTV footage captured Captain Gordon Markley asking if it was a “wind-up”.