TheCable

Andreea Cristea, a Romanian woman who fell into the Thames during the Westminster terror attack, has died.

A family statement on Thursday confirmed her death.

Cristea, 31, is the fifth victim of the attack on 22 March, in which Khalid Masood drove into crowds on Westminster Bridge then stabbed a policeman to death, before being shot dead himself.

The couple was in London to celebrate Burnaz’s birthday and he had been planning to propose to Cristea that day, Romania’s UK ambassador Dan Mihalache told the BBC.

“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,” the family said.

“She will always be remembered as our shining ray of light that will forever keep on shining in our hearts.”

The family said they were “deeply touched and eternally grateful” to the “never-ending dedication” of the medical staff who treated Cristea, saying their “kindness and empathy are beyond compare”.

“There are no words to even begin to describe the crushing pain and emptiness that is left in our hearts,” the statement continued.

Burnaz, who sustained a broken foot in the attack, visited Westminster Bridge last week to lay a single white rose.

Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, said he was “deeply saddened to hear of the death of Andreea Cristea”.

“Londoners hold her & her loved ones in our thoughts today,” Khan tweeted.

The deceased’s  family said they would now like money donated for her recovery to be given to charity.