Westminster attack victim Melissa Cochran seen recovering in hospital

The family of an American victim of the Westminster terror attacks has released photos showing her defiant path to recovery in hospital.

Melissa Cochran, 46, was shown smiling and standing with the aid of crutches in pictures released on the family's fundraising page with a caption that read: "Getting stronger every day."

A second picture of her smiling in bed while surrounded by relatives said: "Talking with loved ones at home is some of the best medicine."

Mrs Cochran, from Utah, lost her husband Kurt, 54, during the Westminster terror attack on March 22.

The couple had been celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary in London when they sustained multiple injuries in Khalid Masood's lethal attack, which left five dead, including police officer Keith Palmer.

Mrs Cochran was taken to hospital after suffering a broken leg, rib and cut head after Masood drove into pedestrians on Westminster bridge before crashing into a fence at the western entrance to the Palace of Westminster.

That is where he stabbed Pc Palmer to death inside the Palace grounds.

Mr Cochran died from multiple injuries at the bridge scene.

Mrs Cochran's brother, Clint Payne, earlier this week said the days since the attack had been "humbling and difficult" for the family, but that it had been a "tender experience" for them to be together to support her.

Mr Payne said they took comfort from the idea that Mr Cochran focused on "the positive" things in life, saying: "Those of us who knew Kurt in life know that Kurt would not bear ill feelings towards anyone, and we can draw strength as a family from that.

"His whole life was an example of focusing on the positive, not pretending that negative things don't exist, but not living our life in the negative.

"And that's what we choose to do also."

The couple's GoFundMe page, created in the hours after Mrs Cochran arrived in hospital, has so far raised over £60,000 ($74,000), against an original target of £40,200 ($50,000).

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