Melissa Cochran, the American tourist injured in last week’s London terror attack, has thanked everyone for the ‘outpouring of love and generosity’ they have shown her and her late husband Kurt, who was killed in the atrocity.
And the 46-year-old is ‘getting stronger every day’, according to her brother, as she recovers in hospital from the appalling incident.
Mrs Cochran and her husband were on the final day of a trip to London to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary when they were run over on Westminster Bridge by a car driven by Khalid Masood. He killed three other people as well as Mr Cochran, and injured about 40 more. Mrs Cochran suffered a broken leg and a head injury.
Photos of Mrs Cochran’s recovery have been posted on a crowdfunding page, which has raised $75,000 for her and their children.
The GoFundMe page reads:
Melissa & Kurt were victims in the London terror attack on March 22, 2017. Melissa was hurt and Kurt was killed.
They were among the first hit by the vehicle on the Westminster bridge. It was their last day of a trip to visit Melissa’s parents who are serving as missionaries in the London LDS temple.
Melissa & Kurt are self-employed, having built a recording studio business from the ground up over the last 10 years. During that time they donated their recording and sound skills to the Summerfest celebration in Bountiful, Utah, to local school productions, and many other worthy causes.
Melissa needs funds to help cover her regular monthly expenses and loss of income. This fund is administered by her brother who is the family spokesman in this tragedy. He will deliver the funds to her.
Mrs Cochran’s brother Clint Payne said on the family’s GoFundMe page: ‘Her health is steadily improving and she has been strengthened by the presence of her family. She is so grateful for the outpouring of love and generosity.
So many people have been so kind, and we are deeply touched by their goodness and generosity. The most difficult part of all of this is that Kurt is no longer with us, and we miss him terribly. He was an amazing individual who loved everyone and tried to make the world a better place.’
Mrs Cochran’s family said they bear no ill will towards Masood, who was shot dead during the attack by a police officer.
Another officer, PC Keith Palmer, 48, was among those who also died.