Terrorist victim died after fall into Thames
A ROMANIAN tourist killed in the Westminster terror attack died from multiple organ failure after being knocked into the River Thames, an inquest has heard.
Andreea Cristea, who was visiting London with her boyfriend, Andrei Burnaz, was thrown into the water from Westminster Bridge as Muslim convert Khalid Masood drove across it at speed on March 22.
She was pulled out and taken to the Royal London Hospital and then St Bartholomew’s but died on April 6, 15 days after the killer’s rampage aimed at the Houses of Parliament, the inquest was told.
She became the fifth victim of Masood, who was later shot dead by armed police after murdering Pc Keith Palmer inside the grounds of the Palace of Westminster.
Detective Superintendent John Crossley, from Scotland Yard’s counter-terrorism command, told yesterday’s short opening hearing at Westminster Coroner’s Court that Ms Cristea had suffered “extensive brain injuries”.
He added: “During the attack she was knocked into the River Thames and was taken to the Royal London Hospital by ambulance. She was then taken to St Bartholomew’s Hospital. Her time of death was recorded as 3.11pm on April 6.”
Coroner’s officer Eric Sword told the inquest a post-mortem examination had given her main cause of death as “multiple organ failure” with a secondary cause given as “head injury... and immersion”.
Mr Burnaz, who suffered a broken foot in the attack, did not attend the hearing. The inquest was adjourned to a preliminary hearing on May 19.
In a statement released after she died, Mr Burnaz and Ms Cristea’s family said that she would “always be remembered as our shining ray of light that will forever keep on shining in our heart”.
They said: “After fighting for her life for over two weeks, our beloved and irreplaceable Andreea – wonderful daughter, sister, partner, dedicated friend and the most unique and life-loving person you can imagine – was cruelly and brutally ripped away from our lives in the most heartless and spiritless way.”