Who Found Nicola Bulley?

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Is there any updates on Nicola Bulley

Inskip mum-of-two Nicola Bulley went missing in the Lancashire village of St Michael’s on Wyre in January 23 and was sadly found dead 23 days later Nicola Bulley disappeared while walking along the banks of the River Wyre in St Michael’s on Wyre, The 45-year-old – known as Nikki – dialled into a work teams call for her job as a mortgage advisor before going missing.

The mother-of-two from Inskip had dropped her two daughters, aged six and nine, off at school in St Michael’s on Wyre before she vanished. Lancashire Police launched a major search on Friday, January 27 with specialist divers searching the river. Nicola’s friends, family and the community of St Michael’s and the surrounding area also joined the search in the hope of reuniting the mum with her loved ones.

But on February 19, walkers discovered her body in the river. A two-day inquest into her cause of death came to an end on June 27. The inquest heard that her cause of death was drowning and Dr James Adeley, senior coroner for Lancashire, delivered a conclusion of accidental death, after hearing evidence from experts and Nicola’s family.14:10, 3 AUG 2023

Could Nicola Bulley have fallen in the river

Police expert explains why Nicola Bulley couldn’t get out of the water A police underwater search specialist said he believes Nicola Bulley fell into the River Wyre before floating downstream. Nicola Bulley sparked a nationwide mystery when she went missing while walking alongside the river with her dog.

• “On the day there was a steady flown downstream.”
• He went on: “The river was 4C, so almost freezing, and if she fell in the muscles would probably seize making it difficult to swim properly.”
• He estimated she would have floated at a “metre a second” downstream.

PC Thackray is asked about his experiences of deaths by drowning where the water depth is “sufficient to be able to stand up”. He said: “I have attended a number of deaths where the water is chest deep and with a flat bottom with no flow to the water.

You could avoid drowning by keeping calm and standing up, however, it doesn’t happen like that when you suddenly enter cold water. “You gasp and you breathe in water and these drownings could have been prevented if they had kept calm and kept your head above the water but it’s never that simple. In this case you can’t put your foot down, the river was moving and even if you got to the point of safety it’s difficult to climb out.” Asked by Sophie Cartwright KC, the barrister representing Nicola’s family, PC Thackray said the advice for if someone falls into cold water is to float.

“If you try to swim you are impaired. Your muscles seize and you tire very quickly.

1. Two breaths of water would have been a “lethal dose” for Nicola Bulley, an expert has told her inquest in Preston.
2. Professor Michael Tipton said: “We estimate the temperature would have been around 3 to 5C (in the River Wyre), so there would be a particularly powerful cold-shock response.
3. “For somebody of Nicola’s size, it would have taken one or two breaths in of water to be a lethal dose.”
4. Professor Tipton said there would have been a “fairly rapid incapacitation” after Nicola Bulley fell into the River Wyre.
5. He told her inquest in Preston: “In my opinion, given the nature of the likely entry into the water, I would suspect Nikki had a gasp response under the water, initiating the drowning process.
6. “On the balance of probability there was a fairly rapid incapacitation due to the cold shock.”
7. It was also heard it could have been an estimated “20 to 30 seconds” before she lost consciousness.
8. Nicola may have only been able to hold her breath for “one or two seconds at best” in the river, an inquest into her death heard.
9. Cold water expert Dr Patrick Morgan said: “(After falling in) the heart rate goes excessively high, the blood pressure surges excessively high.

“The heart pumps no blood, and the brain switches off. The potential conscious time here quoted are optimistic it is potentially shorter. “On the occasion that the individual has taken that initial gasp on the surface of the water and then gone below, the duration would be 10 seconds that you could hold your breath, and very likely one or two seconds at best.” Nicola had dropped her two young children at before walking her dog by the river.

She vanished, leaving the dog behind and her phone still connected to w work call on a bench. Home Office pathologist Alison Armour, who carried out the post-mortem examination on the body of Ms Bulley, 45, said the evidence of water in her lungs and stomach led her to conclude the cause of death was drowning, and there was no other “third party” involved in her death.

Ms Bulley vanished after dropping her daughters, aged six and nine, at school, then taking her usual dog walk along the River Wyre in St Michael’s on Wyre, Lancashire, on January 27. Her phone, still connected to a work Teams call, was found on a bench overlooking the water.

Her body was found in the River Wyre around a mile from the bench, on February 19. Ms Bulley’s partner, Paul Ansell, her sister Louise Cunningham and parents, Ernest and Dot Bulley, sat in the public gallery listening as Ms Armour was called as the first witness to give evidence at the two-day inquest hearing at the County Hall in Preston.

Dr James Adeley, Senior Coroner for Lancashire, asked Ms Armour to sum up her findings and conclusion following the post-mortem examination. Ms Armour said: “I conclude the cause of death as drowning. The lungs themselves showed classical features we see in drownings.

• “In my opinion Nicola Bulley was alive when she entered the water.”
• Ms Armour said the presence of water in the lungs showed swallowing the liquid was an “active process” and therefore suggests Ms Bulley was alive at the time she went into the river.
• She said there were no bleeding in the brain or natural diseases, only normal therapeutic levels of medication in her body and the low level of alcohol was consistent with this being the result of the natural process of decomposition of her body.
• There was some bruising to Ms Bulley’s body but these did not contribute to her death, the inquest was told.
• Dr Adeley asked the witness: “Is there any evidence of third-party involvement playing any part in her death?”
• Ms Armour replied: “No, there was not.”
• Ms Bulley, a mortgage adviser originally from near Chelmsford but living in Inskip, was immediately deemed a “high risk” missing person when she vanished, sparking a huge police search operation, with hundreds of local search volunteers and intense media and public interest.
• Private underwater search specialists were also called in by her family amid a conspiratorial social media frenzy fuelling waves of sightseers and content creators visiting the scene.
• Police had urged people not to speculate about the disappearance and maintained from early on there were no suspicious circumstances, and that Ms Bulley may have gone into the water due to an “issue” with her springer spaniel dog, Willow.
• Ms Bulley’s family and friends said they did not believe the police “theory” and urged people to continue searching.
• Paul Ansell, her partner of 12 years, gave TV interviews appealing for help – saying their daughters wanted their mummy home.
• As the days passed and speculation continued online, Lancashire Police revealed Ms Bulley had struggled with alcohol and perimenopause.
• This prompted widespread criticism for disclosing her personal information, with Home Secretary Suella Braverman and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak questioned about the police approach and the force facing investigation.
• Earlier, shortly before the hearing began, the coroner Mr Adeley addressed the social media controversy surrounding Ms Bulley’s death.
• He said the inquest would deal with only “proportionate evidence from reliable sources and not to explore all the theories by those who contributed to social media”.
• The coroner added: “At the centre of this inquest are two children who have lost their mother, a partner, and parents who have lost a daughter.”
• Mr Adeley warned if anyone had the “slightest idea” to disrupt the hearing they would be dealt with “immediately”.
• The inquest hearing continues.

: Police expert explains why Nicola Bulley couldn’t get out of the water

Was Nicola Bulley found upstream?

Nicola Bulley: Diver explains why his team failed to find body

• A diving expert involved in the search for missing mother has defended his team’s involvement in the investigation.
• A body was found in the River Wyre by two dog walkers not far from where the 45-year-old went missing three weeks ago.
• Peter Faulding, head of Specialist Group International, led a team of experts and divers to assist in searching the river using specialist sonar equipment.

Nicola Bulley, 45, was last seen on the morning of Friday January 27 while walking her dog (Family/PA)

1. Mr Faulding, who joined the police midway through the search before concluding that Ms Bulley’s body was not in the river after three days, said the body was found in an area that was not part of his team’s search remit.
2. He said that he had become the by the police on Sunday afternoon.
3. “Sadly, the discovery was not found in the river but in the reeds at the side of the river which was not part of our remit as the side scan sonar does not penetrate reeds above or below the water,” Mr Faulding said in a statement.

He added: “A riverbank and wade search would be the only way to search this area and we were not involved or tasked with that search. The difference between these two search areas has caused a lot of confusion and unfair criticism towards myself and my team at Specialist Group International (SGI).

At the start of SGI’s involvement in the search, Mr Faulding said if Ms Bulley was in the river, his and “our sonar will pick her up straight away.” A map showing where Ms Bulley was found On these comments, Mr Faulding said: “My previous comments saying that if Nicola was in the river, I would find her, still stand.

My team and I at SGI did all we could to assist this family with only our best intentions. I am sure I can say this of everyone who has been involved in this difficult search. after it revealed that Ms Bulley was considered high risk and had “significant issues” with alcohol related to the menopause.

1. The forensic expert claimed he wasn’t told the missing mother had significant issues – and says he would have taken a different approach if he had.
2. Faulding, left, with Bulley’s partner Paul Ansell on a visit to the riverside He said having this knowledge would have changed his team’s “whole search strategy”.

In the defence of his search he also said: “For three days, using high frequency side scan sonar, we thoroughly search the riverbed and can categorically confirm that Nicola was not laying on the riverbed on the days that we searched. “We did search the stretch of river where Nicola was found for four hours on our first day and then upstream past the weir on the subsequent two days.

The police underwater search teams and land search teams were searching for three full weeks and were also unable to find Nicola. “A riverbank and wade search would be the only way to search this area and we were not involved or tasked with that search. The difference between these two search areas has caused a lot of confusion and unfair criticism towards myself and my team at Specialist Group International (SGI).” Peter Faulding and his team search the river (PA) Mr Faulding, who updated the media frequently during his involvement in the search, was accused of supporting the operation for his own fame.

He defended these accusations saying he did not volunteer his services, equipment or time for “any limelight or publicity.” “I simply wanted to lend extra resources to help a family in despair and this was supported by Lancashire Police. However, there has been unprecedented media and public interest in this case and at every turn, I was asked for an update on my own search, which I provided with only best intentions,” Mr Faulding said.

• Mr Faulding said that despite SGI’s status as a recognised underwater search team for Essex, Surrey, Kent and Hampshire, “sometimes we are unable to locate the missing person.”
• Lancashire Constabulary said a formal identification is yet to be carried out but the 45-year-old mortgage adviser’s family have been informed.
• Her partner Paul Ansell told Sky News of his “agony”, adding: “We’re all together, we have to be strong.”

A police spokesman said officers were called to reports of a body in the river close to Rawcliffe Road at around 11.35am on Sunday. : Nicola Bulley: Diver explains why his team failed to find body

What actually happened to Nicola Bully?

Nicola Bulley died accidentally after falling into cold water, coroner concludes

• Nicola Bulley died accidentally after falling into cold water, the coroner at her inquest has concluded.
• Ms Bulley, 45, vanished after dropping off her daughters, six and nine, at school, and taking her usual dog walk along the River Wyre in St Michael’s, Lancashire, on 27 January.
• Following her disappearance, the 45-year-old mortgage adviser from Inskip was immediately deemed a “high risk” missing person and her disappearance sparked an intensive search operation before her body was eventually found more than three weeks later in the Wyre.

Image: Nicola Bulley’s family released a new picture of her following the inquest

2. Dr James Adeley, senior coroner for Lancashire, recorded her death as accidental as she fell into the river and suffered “cold water shock”, ruling out suicide.
3. after the inquest, Ms Bulley’s family said: “Sadly, we feel the need to again raise and address the issue of social media.
4. “It’s upsetting that we’ve continued to receive negative targeted messages and still witness wildly inaccurate speculation being shared over numerous platforms.
5. “We encourage people to look at the facts, the evidence which has been heard during the inquest, and the conclusion reached by the Coroner, to ignore any amateur views and opinions, and be mindful of the impact words bring.”

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 3:11 Nicola Bulley’s family asks for time to heal

• Nicola was ‘looking forward to the future’
• Earlier, her partner Paul Ansell said that despite a “blip” in her mental health she was “back to herself” and had plans for the year ahead.
• Her family’s lawyer told the hearing at County Hall, Preston, they believed her death was “a tragic accident”.
• Ms Bulley’s mobile phone was still connected to a work Teams call when it was found on a bench overlooking the river on the day she went missing.
• Mr Ansell said: “She was still listening to that meeting, so I think she must have maybe put the phone on the bench and gone to put the harness back on Willow.”

2. He said she had been “looking forward to the future” before she disappeared, despite the “blip” the previous month.
3. “The blip over the Christmas period happened but in January she was back to herself, looking forward to the future and everything was on the up,” said Mr Ansell, who at one point during his evidence broke down in tears and had to leave the room.
4. He added: “She had a good day the day before (she went missing), came home full of beans, excited with work, with the meetings she had and plans for the year.”
5. On the day she disappeared, he sent her a text message saying: “Have you got lost?”
6. Asked if she had any suicidal thoughts, Mr Ansell said she had made “a couple of throwaway comments” the month before her death, “but nothing that gave me any concern”.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:41 Inquest shown dive video

• ‘Nothing’ to suggest she took her own life
• Her former GP told the inquest there was “nothing” in Ms Bulley’s medical records to suggest she was suicidal.
• Dr Rebecca Gray said Ms Bulley had spoken to her about having a “low mood and anxiety” since 2018, and had later told her she was suffering from headaches, fatigue and lack of sleep.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:26 Police say thoughts are with Bulley family

1. But there was “nothing on the notes or records from 2012 where there’s been any mention of her feeling suicidal or of self-harm”, Dr Gray added.
2. Ms Bulley was sent to A&E on 11 January due to an injury to her head, Dr Gray said.
3. The mother-of-two attended a walk-in centre after a fall, complaining of increased drowsiness and vomiting, and was sent to A&E where a CT scan came back normal, the inquest heard.

Image: Police officers during the search

• A mental health clinician attended Ms Bulley’s house on 10 January along with a police officer and paramedic following concerns about her welfare.
• But Theresa Lewis Leevy told the inquest Ms Bulley did not appear depressed despite concerns over her increased drinking.
• Ms Bulley appeared intoxicated on her bed and spoke of having lost weight.
• However, when asked if she appeared depressed, Ms Leevy said: “No, no, not that I could ascertain at the time.”
• Sister speaks of pain
• Ms Bulley’s sister cried as she spoke during the inquest.

“Nikki was my big sister. very much a planner,” Louise Cunningham said. “She started her career again, a busy mum, as most people are, juggling a career and family life. She always had things under her control.” Image: A police diver searches the river

2. Ms Cunningham also commented on the “blip” in her sister’s mental state.
3. She said: “She had a blip over Christmas (2022) but she was back on the HRT medication in January and back to work and back to the normal Nikki.”
4. Ms Cunningham said her sister was drinking more heavily over that period.
5. Read more:
6. But she added: “She’s never confided in me about any suicidal thoughts.”
7. Ms Cunningham said she was planning a spa day shortly before Ms Bulley’s death.
8. She cried as she said: “I literally confirmed it was booked but she didn’t pick up the message.”

Image: Ribbons left on a bench near where Ms Bulley was last seen

• No evidence of harm before ‘drowning’
• On Tuesday, the inquest heard there was before she drowned.
• Expert Professor Michael Tipton said the temperature of the river was around 3-5C and it would have taken “one or two breaths” of water to kill Ms Bulley.
• Asked by Dr James Adeley, senior coroner for Lancashire, if there was any evidence of third-party involvement in Ms Bulley’s death, Home Office pathologist Dr Alison Armour replied: “No, there was not.”

Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email [email protected] in the UK. : Nicola Bulley died accidentally after falling into cold water, coroner concludes

How was Nicola Bulley not found earlier?

The statement in full – Although identification has not been formally confirmed I would like to say my thoughts are with the family and friends of Nicola Bulley at this very difficult time. The SGI underwater search team was tasked with searching the river upsteam of weir in the non tidal part of the river, past the bench where Nicola’s phone was found and a mile upstream past this point.

• For three days, using high frequency side scan sonar, we thoroughly search the riverbed and can categorically confirm that Nicola was not laying on the riverbed on the days that we searched.
• We did search the stretch of river where Nicola was found for four hours on our first day and then upstream past the weir on the subsequent two days.

The police underwater search teams and land search teams were searching for three full weeks and were also unable to find Nicola. Unfortunately it was a member of the public that made a grim discovery, unconfirmed as yet to be Nicola. Sadly, the discovery was not found in the river but in the reeds at the side of the river which was not part of our remit as the side scan sonar does not penetrate reeds above or below the water.

1. A riverbank and wade search would be the only way to search this area and we were not involved or tasked with that search.
2. The difference between these two search areas has caused a lot of confusion and unfair criticism towards myself and my team at Specialist Group International (SGI).
3. My previous comments saying that if Nicola was in the river, I would find her, still stand.

My team and I at SGI did all we could to assist this family with only our best intentions. I am sure I can say this of everyone who has been involved in this difficult search. I did not volunteer my services, my equipment or my team for any limelight or publicity, I simply wanted to lend extra resources to help a family in despair and this was supported by Lancashire Police.

• However, there has been unprecedented media and public interest in this case and at every turn, I was asked for an update on my own search, which I provided with only best intentions,
• Support for my assistance and my actions have been overwhelmingly positive although I am aware of that some negativity has been towards myself and my team.

SGI is the recognised underwater search team for Essex, Surrey, Sussex, Kent, Hampshire and Thames Valley police who we have worked closely alongside for many years. Unfortunately there are few police underwater search teams left. Each year we locate and recover many unfortunate victims and bring them back to their families.

Why didn t they find Nicola Bulley?

Nicola Bulley search specialist Peter Faulding has revealed why his team did not find anything despite searching part of the river where a body was later found, Peter Faulding, the owner of Specialist Group International, was asked by Nicola’s family to help in the search following her disappearance in Lancashire over three weeks ago.

The SGI team used sonar equipment to scan parts of the River Wyre where Nicola’s phone was found on January 27. Peter Faulding oversaw the underwater search for Nicola across three days. After his search found nothing, Mr Faulding said he believed Nicola was not in the river. On Sunday, February 19, Lancashire Police confirmed a body had been found in the River Wyre, while formal identification is yet to take police, her family has been informed and are being looked after by specialist officers.

Read more: Nicola Bulley: The timeline of how a tragic search unfolded It has been clamed that officers had been alerted to the find by a man and a woman who’d been walking downstream of the area where the 45-year-old’s phone was found on an riverbank bench, still connected to a work Teams call. The area on the river Wyre, in Lancashire, where a body was recovered (Image: Julian Hamilton/Daily Mirror) He added that his team did search the part of the river where a body was discovered for four hours on the first day of their search for Nicola.

Explaining why his equipment would not have found a body, he said the sonar does not penetrate reeds, and only a riverbank and wade search would have made the discovery due to its location – and his team was not tasked with doing this. He said: “My previous comments saying that if Nicola was in the river, I would find her, still stand.

My team and I at SGI did all we could to assist this family with only our best intentions. I am sure I can say this of everyone who has been involved in this difficult search.” Mr Faulding said there has been a lot of “unfair criticism” towards himself and his team due to the confusion between the search they were conducting, and an underwater search that does not use sonar equipment. Nicola with her dog Willow (Image: PA) The full statement said: “Although identification has not been formally confirmed I would like to say my thoughts are with the family and friends of Nicola Bulley at this very difficult time. “The SGI underwater search team was tasked with searching the river upstream of weir in the non tidal part of the river, past the bench where Nicola’s phone was found and a mile upstream past this point.

For three days, using high frequency side scan sonar, we thoroughly search the riverbed and can categorically confirm that Nicola was not laying on the riverbed on the days that we searched. We did search the stretch of river where Nicola was found for four hours on our first day and then upstream past the weir on the subsequent two days.

The police underwater search teams and land search teams were searching for three full weeks and were also unable to find Nicola. Unfortunately it was a member of the public that made a grim discovery, unconfirmed as yet to be Nicola. “Sadly, the discovery was not found in the river but in the reeds at the side of the river which was not part of our remit as the side scan sonar does not penetrate reeds above or below the water.

1. A riverbank and wade search would be the only way to search this area and we were not involved or tasked with that search.
2. The difference between these two search areas has caused a lot of confusion and unfair criticism towards myself and my team at Specialist Group International (SGI).
3. My previous comments saying that if Nicola was in the river, I would find her, still stand.

My team and I at SGI did all we could to assist this family with only our best intentions. I am sure I can say this of everyone who has been involved in this difficult search. “I did not volunteer my services, my equipment or my team for any limelight or publicity, I simply wanted to lend extra resources to help a family in despair and this was supported by Lancashire Police.

However, there has been unprecedented media and public interest in this case and at every turn, I was asked for an update on my own search, which I provided with only best intentions, Support for my assistance and my actions have been overwhelmingly positive although I am aware of that some negativity has been towards myself and my team.

“SGI is the recognised underwater search team for Essex, Surrey, Sussex, Kent, Hampshire and Thames Valley police who we have worked closely alongside for many years. Unfortunately there are few police underwater search teams left. Each year we locate and recover many unfortunate victims and bring them back to their families.

Nicola Bulley’s partner tells of ‘agony’ after a body was found in river Private security firm brought in to protect Nicola Bulley villagers Dog walker who discovered Nicola Bulley’s mobile ‘knew something wasn’t right’ Home Secretary demands ‘explanation’ over Nicola Bulley private life disclosure Man arrested while filming at place where Nicola Bulley disappeared

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Did Nicola Bulley go over the weir?

Yesterday, Lancashire Police confirmed a body was found in the river in St Michael’s near where Nicola Bulleywent missing on January 27 belonged to the mortgage adviser Forensic expert Peter Faulding denies giving Nicola’s family ‘false hope’ ( Image: Julian Hamilton/Daily Mirror) An expert diver involved with the search for missing mum Nicola Bulley says he is “baffled” by the location of where her body was found. Yesterday, Lancashire Police confirmed a body found in the river in St Michael’s near where Nicola went missing on January 27 belonged to the mortgage adviser.

Forensic dive expert Peter Faulding had previously said that Nicola was not in the River Wyre after he searched for her there. He said: “If Nicola was in that river, I would have found her. She’s not there.” Mr Faulding was drafted in 10 days after the mortgage adviser’s disappearance and spent three days searching the River Wyre.

Nicola Bulley was last seen on January 27 Peter Faulding CEO of company Specialist Group International ( Image: PA) It comes as Mr Faulding had previously denied that he gave the family false hope. Mr Faulding, CEO of Search Group International (SGI), told Express.co.uk : “This is a baffling case.

• The most baffling aspect is at the bottom of the bank there was only two feet of water on the day Nicola went missing.
• She would have landed on rocks if she had slipped in.
• The current was not heavy enough to take her over the weir.
• A lot of people agree on that.” Specialist Group International led by Mr Faulding searching the River Wyre ( Image: Julian Hamilton/Daily Mirror) He also said that searching tidal rivers are difficult and that what happened to Nicola “is still a mystery”.

Mr Faulding also called for the “speculation” around what happened to Nicola to stop so the family “can be left to grieve”. His comments come after speaking to various outlets yesterday saying he refused to be the “fall guy” in what happened. Yesterday, Nicola’s family’s worst fears were confirmed.

The area on the River Wyre, in Lancashire, where a body was recovered ( Image: Julian Hamilton/Daily Mirror) A massive search was launched on land, and air and went out nearly 14 miles to sea. Divers using high-tech equipment were seen trawling the river as specialist officers combed the riverbanks and conducted house-to-house searches.

Nicola’s family said they were devastated at the news as they said in a statement last night: “We will never be able to comprehend what Nikki had gone through in her last moments and that will never leave us. Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play “We will never forget Nikki, how could we, she was the centre of our world, she was the one who made our lives so special and nothing will cast a shadow over that. “Our girls will get the support they need from the people who love them the most.” Nicola’s case sparked national interest from the media and individuals alike – leading to the family slamming the harmful speculation that spread like wildfire.

Has Nicola Bulley got mental health issues?

She had not been drinking. – Nicola Bulley, the 45-year-old mother of two who vanished walking her dog in January, died accidentally after falling in a river and drowning, a coroner has concluded. The inquest heard that she hadn’t been drinking. Her disappearance on 27 January, next to the River Wyre in St Michael’s on Wyre in Lancashire, prompted a major search.

It also sparked a slew of conspiracy theories after police, her family and friends, the media and the rest of the country pored over every detail about her last known movements. During the inquest, her sister Louise Cunningham spoke of her struggles with ‘increased alcohol use’ due to menopause issues: ‘She discussed having some symptoms with the HRT, it was back in the summer,

‘She was having headaches, she couldn’t get the balance exactly right, she mentioned having struggles sleeping. She was taking lavender spray, herbal tea, anything that would relax her before bed.’ Nicola’s partner Paul Ansel described a mental health blip she faced over Christmas, but that she was feeling better by January.

1. ‘She had a good day the day before, came home full of beans, excited with work, with the meetings she had and plans for the year,’ he said.
2. The inquest also heard that a crisis response vehicle was sent to Nicola’s home in January due to concerns about her alcohol consumption.
3. She was also admitted to hospital the following day with an injury to her head after a fall.

Louise stated that she had called the emergency services out because she was ‘concerned’ and wanted ‘peace of mind’, and that while Nicola was ‘fuming’ it had served as a ‘wake up call’. ‘She was my sister, I was concerned,’ Louise added. ‘She’s never ever confided in me about any suicidal thoughts or anything like that at all.’ The inquest also heard from Nicola’s parents, with her mother Dorothy stating that she saw her the evening before went missing and ‘everything was normal’ while her father described the night they spent together as ‘lovely’ and that he’d talked with his daughter about her plans to close a business deal.

Home Office pathologist Dr Alison Armour told the inquest at County Hall in Preston: ‘I gave the cause of death as drowning. The watery fluid identified within the stomach and also in the lungs themselves are classical features as we see in cases of drowning.’ She added: ‘Ms Bulley was alive when she entered the water – because it is an active process to swallow and inhale water into lungs.

My opinion as to the cause of death is that it was drowning.’ Prof Michael Tipton, from the University of Portsmouth who supports search and rescue operators such as the RNLI, said just two breaths of water would have been a ‘lethal dose’. ‘We estimate the temperature would have been around 3 to 5C, so there would be a particularly powerful cold-shock response,’ he said.

• He added that there would have been a ‘fairly rapid incapacitation.’ The pathologist also said Nicola had not been drinking before her death.
• This comes after Lancashire Police faced backlash at the time for revealing Nicola suffered from ‘significant issues with alcohol’ in the past.
• The coroner asked if there was any evidence of third-party involvement in Ms Bulley’s death, to which Dr Armour said, in her opinion, ‘there was not’.

She also added there was no evidence Nicola had been harmed by a third-party. As the inquest confirms, she died by drowning with no evidence of foul play.

Was Nicola Bulley dog wet when found

A number of images seemingly showing Nicola Bulley’s dog swimming in a river could destroy a key police theory on the whereabouts of the missing mum. Officials believe that the 45-year-old fell in the water whilst out walking her springer spaniel, Willow.

The mother disappeared while out walking her pet along the River Wyre in the village of St Michaels, Lancashire, on January 27. The Mirror reports that her phone was found on a bench overlooking the water, with the dog wandering alone nearby. Following Nicola’s disappearance, a major police search was quickly launched before it was confirmed the force’s main hypothesis was Nicola accidentally fell into the water.

Superintendent Sally Riley said there was a chance the missing mortgage adviser had gone to the water’s edge due to something relating to Willow. (Image: Dave Nelson) She suggested perhaps the dog had dropped its tennis ball into the river – with the spaniel having been completely dry when she was found. However, Nicola had previously shared a number of photos showing Willow happily swimming in open water on the same route. Nicola Bulley with Willow, who is seen wet (Image: Family handout/PA Wire) That pic was taken on July 5, 2022, and was captioned: “A quick morning walk before a busy day ahead! Willow living her best life!” This set of photos was tagged as being taken in St Michaels on Wyre, where she would go missing seven months later. Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play She then went on to say: “The dog was off the lead, this was normal for the dog to run about and Nicola was on a teams call, which again it would be normal for her not to participate in actively and just have the phone to listen in, effectively.

Anything could have happened with the dog whereby Nicola may have gone – and I don’t wish to speculate, we don’t know – but it is possible the dog was loose and off the lead that there may have been an issue with the dog that led her to go near to the water’s edge. “She puts the phone down momentarily and Nicola may have fallen in.

That is a possibility.” The Superintendent later confirmed that the dog was dry when found by other walkers. Ms Riley said: “We don’t believe the dog was in the river because the dog, we believe, was dry and the witnesses have not described the dog swimming or jumping into the river.

Is it Nicola’s body?

Divers return to river where Nicola Bulley’s body was found – latest news Police divers have returned to the River Wyre six weeks after ‘s body was found in the water. Footage has been shared on social media showing the divers in the water. Officers are seen wading through the water next to the weir close to where the 45-year-old’s phone and her dog Willow were found on the morning she disappeared on 27 January.

1. My colleague Thomas Kingsley has the details: The mother of two went missing on 27 January prompting a three week search Emily Atkinson 11 April 2023 14:51 A body was found in the search for Nicola Bulley after a tip-off by members of the public in February.
2. The 45-year-old, was last seen on Friday 27 January at around 9.20am while walking her dog alongside the River Wyre in St Michael’s on Wyre, Lancashire.

Ms Bulley’s phone was found, apparently still connected to a Microsoft Teams work call, on a park bench nearby, along with the harness and lead for her dog, Willow, a springer spaniel. Her body was found in the river 23 days after she went missing, around a mile farther downstream from the bench on 19 February.

• Questions still hang over the circumstances of the protracted search for Ms Bulley as we await the results of an inquest and a long list of investigations.
• In the meantime, here is a timeline of how the case unfolded: The 45-year-old mortgage advisor went missing on January 27 Emily Atkinson 11 April 2023 15:07 The diving team was seen in the water not far from a weir and downstream from a bench where police believe Ms Bulley went into the water in St Michael’s on Wyre on 27 January.

In a statement shared today, Lancashire Police said: “We can confirm we are carrying out some work on the direction of HM coroner.” Footage shared to social media by YouTuber Maria Solarz shows the divers returning to the scene, with one diver filmed “floating on his back” along a stretch of river.

1. Ms Solarz shot the video while on a “nice quiet walk” with her son and friend.
2. The divers are seen wading through the waist-level water before floating down the river near a weir, close to where the mother-of-two went missing.
3. Emily Atkinson 11 April 2023 15:25 A map showing the exact location where a body was found in the search for missing dog walker, compared to where she was last seen and where her was found has been released.

Ms Bulley was last seen walking along the towpath near Allotment Lane at around 9am on 27 January Emily Atkinson 11 April 2023 15:55 Ms Bulley had disappeared on 27 January while walking her dog Willow after dropping her children off at school earlier that morning.

Police said two walkers, who used a path well trodden by officers, found her body, which was formally identified the following day. Missing mother-of-two discovered in stretch of river already searched by police Emily Atkinson 11 April 2023 16:30 Social media algorithms that reward and encourage controversial content fuelled the waves of online interest in the case, experts have claimed.

Social media experts have said platforms whose algorithms reward engagement drove ‘amateur sleuths’ and conspiracy theorists to discuss the case. Emily Atkinson 11 April 2023 17:05 A man was arrested last month over footage shot from inside a police cordon on the day Nicola Bulley’s body was found in the River Wyre.

• The 34-year-old man from Kidderminster was arrested on suspicion of malicious communications offences and perverting the course of justice in connection with the investigation to find Ms Bulley.
• My colleague Martha McHardy has the full report: Man arrested on suspicion of malicious communications offences Andy Gregory 11 April 2023 17:47 The inquest into Nicola Bulley’s death is scheduled to take place on 26 June at County Hall in Preston.

Confirming the presence of officers at the River Wyre some six weeks after her body was discovered on 19 February, Lancashire Police said it had been “carrying out some work on the direction of HM coroner”. Andy Gregory 11 April 2023 18:19 We have compiled this up-to-date timeline of events in the days, weeks and months since Nicola Bulley’s disappearance: Missing mother’s body was found in February – police have now returned to the scene in St Michael’s on Wyre Andy Gregory 11 April 2023 18:51 At 8.26am on 27 January, Nicola Bulley left her home with her two daughters, dropping them off at school and engaging in a brief conversation with another parent around 15 minutes later, according to Lancashire Police.

She then took her spaniel Willow for a walk along the River Wyre at 8:43am, and was seen by a dog walker who knew her at around 8.50am, with their pets interacting briefly before they parted ways, according to the force. At 8.53am, Ms Bulley sent an email to her boss, followed by a message to her friends six minutes later, before logging on to a Microsoft Teams call at 9.01am.

She was seen by a second witness at 9.10am, the last known sighting. Her phone was back in the area of the bench at 9.20am before the Teams call ended 10 minutes later, with her mobile remaining logged on after the call. At 9.33am, another dog walker found her phone on a bench beside the river, with Willow darting between the two.

Why has Nicola Bulley only just been found?

An ex-murder detective has explained the “two possibilities” as to why a body has only just been found in the search for Nicola Bulley, Police recovered a body from the River Wyre on Sunday, February 19 and the former cop has suggested reasons why the body wasn’t found sooner.

He said that while “we don’t know all the facts”, there seemed to be only two reasons a body has only just been found, reports Birmingham Live, Speaking to The Times, he said: “That means really only two other possibilities – the body was weighed down or there were failures in the search.” He continued: “It’s important to emphasise we don’t know all the facts.

However, it does seem pretty extraordinary given the level of searches in that area.” He added: “The police had underwater drones and the private company had 3D scanners for that reason so it seems unlikely.” Poll – How often do you shop in Lincoln City Centre? The body was found around a mile from where the 45-year-old was last seen walking her dog in St Michael’s on Wyre after dropping her daughters, aged six and nine, at school on January 27.

It is understood that formal identification could take some time. Retired Scotland Yard detective inspector Hamish Brown told GB News: “The identification process isn’t pleasant for anyone. I’m afraid it’s just another line of unpleasant torture for the family, but something nevertheless that must be done.” Mr Brown’s comments come after Lancashire Police said in a statement yesterday: “An underwater search team and specialist officers have subsequently attended the scene, entered the water and have sadly recovered a body.

“No formal identification has yet been carried out, so we are unable to say whether this is Nicola Bulley at this time. Procedures to identify the body are ongoing. We are currently treating the death as unexplained.” The force added: “Nicola’s family have been informed of developments and our thoughts are with them at this most difficult of times.

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Why didn t Peter Faulding find Nicola?

A diving specialist tasked with finding Nicola Bulley has hit out at his critics after a body was discovered in a river. Peter Faulding, founder and CEO of Dorking-based Specialist Group International, was speaking after a body was found on Sunday (February 19) in the River Wyre where Ms Bulley was last seen.

Having offered his services for free his company spent three days searching the Lancashire river as part of the three-week police search. On his Facebook page on Monday (February 20) Mr Faulding responded to “unfair criticism” towards his team following the discovery of the body which was made by a member of the public.

Speaking to SurreyLive, Mr Faulding explained why his team had not located the body. He said it was actually discovered in a reedbed which interfered with sonar technology used by his divers to locate people in similar circumstances. He also ruled out any suggestion the body could have been placed there recently.

READ MORE: Body found in river by police searching for Nicola Bulley “Our role was to search the riverbed, which we did,” Mr Faulding said. “We spent four hours searching that part of the river and I can categorically say she was not on the riverbed. The body was in reeds, not the river. That was not our remit.

“If she was on the riverbed I would have found her but she was not on the riverbed when we searched. Bodies move, bodies get jammed in reeds which sonar will not see through. We spent most of the time above the Wyre searching where her mobile phone was found.

1. If she had been on the riverbed when we scanned we would have seen her crystal clear.
2. The media have come to me over this because there was very little coming out from Lancashire Police at the end of the day, I didn’t go up there for that.” Mr Faulding refuted any claims he had offered his services free of charge for any “limelight or publicity” saying he wanted to “help a family in despair”.

While identification of the body has yet to take place, he said his thoughts were with Nicola’s friends and family at this “difficult time” and asked others to be more sensitive. He added: “Trolls online are criticising saying ‘you’re useless’ and things like that.

It doesn’t bother me, I’ve got broad enough shoulders, but all the comments upset the family and friends. This is about the family now. Critics need to stop blaming people, whether it’s the police or us because it’s not actually helping the family. “Everybody pulled the stops out to find Nicola and I can say now if the police divers were there they would have found her as well.

Tidal rivers are extremely difficult places to search and there’s plenty of snag hazards for bodies to get tangled up into.” READ NEXT

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How was Nicola Bulley not found earlier

The statement in full – Although identification has not been formally confirmed I would like to say my thoughts are with the family and friends of Nicola Bulley at this very difficult time. The SGI underwater search team was tasked with searching the river upsteam of weir in the non tidal part of the river, past the bench where Nicola’s phone was found and a mile upstream past this point.

For three days, using high frequency side scan sonar, we thoroughly search the riverbed and can categorically confirm that Nicola was not laying on the riverbed on the days that we searched. We did search the stretch of river where Nicola was found for four hours on our first day and then upstream past the weir on the subsequent two days.

The police underwater search teams and land search teams were searching for three full weeks and were also unable to find Nicola. Unfortunately it was a member of the public that made a grim discovery, unconfirmed as yet to be Nicola. Sadly, the discovery was not found in the river but in the reeds at the side of the river which was not part of our remit as the side scan sonar does not penetrate reeds above or below the water.

• A riverbank and wade search would be the only way to search this area and we were not involved or tasked with that search.
• The difference between these two search areas has caused a lot of confusion and unfair criticism towards myself and my team at Specialist Group International (SGI).
• My previous comments saying that if Nicola was in the river, I would find her, still stand.

My team and I at SGI did all we could to assist this family with only our best intentions. I am sure I can say this of everyone who has been involved in this difficult search. I did not volunteer my services, my equipment or my team for any limelight or publicity, I simply wanted to lend extra resources to help a family in despair and this was supported by Lancashire Police.

1. However, there has been unprecedented media and public interest in this case and at every turn, I was asked for an update on my own search, which I provided with only best intentions,
2. Support for my assistance and my actions have been overwhelmingly positive although I am aware of that some negativity has been towards myself and my team.

SGI is the recognised underwater search team for Essex, Surrey, Sussex, Kent, Hampshire and Thames Valley police who we have worked closely alongside for many years. Unfortunately there are few police underwater search teams left. Each year we locate and recover many unfortunate victims and bring them back to their families.

How did Nicola Bulley end up in river?

A police underwater search expert has stated he believes Nicola Bulley fell into the River Wyre before floating downstream. The 45-year-old went missing while on a walk along the river with her dog. She was tragically found dead after more than three weeks of searching as the mystery concerned many across the country.

A video of specialist PC Matthew Thackray in St Michael’s on Wyre, Lancashire – where the mother of two is believed to have fallen into the river before losing her life – has been shared in court. The police specialist estimated Ms Bulley would have floated at a “metre a second” while travelling downstream, reports Wales Online.

In the footage, the expert said: “There is a large vertical slope from the bench and into the water. On the day there was a steady flown downstream.” “The river was 4C, so almost freezing, and if she fell in the muscles would probably seize making it difficult to swim properly”, he added.

When asked about his experiences of deaths by drowning where the water depth is “sufficient to be able to stand up”, PC Thackray said: “I have attended a number of deaths where the water is chest deep and with a flat bottom with no flow to the water. You could avoid drowning by keeping calm and standing up, however, it doesn’t happen like that when you suddenly enter cold water “You gasp and you breathe in water and these drownings could have been prevented if they had kept calm and kept your head above the water but it’s never that simple.

In this case you can’t put your foot down, the river was moving and even if you got to the point of safety it’s difficult to climb out.” Nicola Bulley (Image: PA) The police specialist was questioned by Sophie Cartwright KC, the barrister representing Nicola’s family during the inquest into the 45-year-old’s death. Thackray explained that the advice for anyone who falls into cold water is to float, stating: “If you try to swim you are impaired.

Your muscles seize and you tire very quickly. Another expert added that just two breaths of water would have been a “lethal dose” for Ms Bulley. During the inquest in Preston Professor Michael Tipton said: “We estimate the temperature would have been around 3 to 5C (in the River Wyre), so there would be a particularly powerful cold-shock response.

“For somebody of Nicola’s size, it would have taken one or two breaths in of water to be a lethal dose.” The professor stated that there would have been a “fairly rapid incapacitation” as Nicola fell into the water. He told her inquest: “In my opinion, given the nature of the likely entry into the water, I would suspect Nikki had a gasp response under the water, initiating the drowning process. Police searched the area for more than three weeks before the 45-year-old was found dead a mile along the river on February 19 (Image: Getty Images) The inquest also heard that it may have only been around “20 to 30 seconds” before the 45-year-old lost consciousness, with Nicola only having been able to hold her breath for “one or two seconds at best”.

Doctor Patrick Morgan, a cold water expert, said: “(After falling in) the heart rate goes excessively high, the blood pressure surges excessively high. “The heart pumps no blood, and the brain switches off. The potential conscious time here quoted are optimistic it is potentially shorter. “On the occasion that the individual has taken that initial gasp on the surface of the water and then gone below, the duration would be 10 seconds that you could hold your breath, and very likely one or two seconds at best.” The mum of two disappeared on January 27 after she had dropped her kids at school before heading out for a walk by the river with her dog.

She vanished, leaving the dog behind as well as her phone – which was still connected to a work call on a nearby bench. Her body was recovered on February 19, around a mile from the bench where her phone was found. It was confirmed by a post-mortem examination that the 45-year-old’s death was caused by drowning.

1. Home Office pathologist Alison Armour explained there was evidence of water in her lungs and stomach.
2. It was concluded that there was no “third party” involvement in the death.
3. Ms Bulley’s partner, Paul Ansell, sister Louise Cunningham and her parents Ernest and Dot Bulley watched on from the public Gallery as Ms Armous was called as first witness to give evidence during two-day inquest.

The pathologist was asked to summarise her findings and conclusion by Dr James Adeley, Senior Coroner for Lancashire. Ms Armour said: “I conclude the cause of death as drowning. The lungs themselves showed classical features we see in drownings. “In my opinion Nicola Bulley was alive when she entered the water.” The liquid found in the lungs suggests Ms Bulley swallowed water. Nicola Bulley was walking family pup Willow when she vanished (Image: Family handout/PA Wire) Some bruising was apparent on Ms Bulley’s body but this did not contribute to her death, the inquest heard. Dr Adeley asked the witness: “Is there any evidence of third-party involvement playing any part in her death?” Ms Armour replied: “No, there was not.” Nicola was deemed “high risk” when she went missing, sparking a huge police search as well as hundreds of local volunteers joining the hunt.

• Private underwater specialists were also called in by her family amid intense coverage of the case on social media.
• As millions commented, shared videos and even their own theories online, the sight became of huge interest as many headed to the river to visit the scene.
• Police urged people to avoid speculation, maintaining that there were no suspicious circumstances.

Speculation continued online for days and weeks as Lancashire Police then revealed Ms Bulley had struggled with alcohol and perimenopause.

How did Nicola Bulley end up in the river reddit

According to my understanding, she was walking her dog when she presumably slipped, fell into the river and sadly drowned. This was what I thought most likely happened before they found the body, and right now it seems like I was right.