Nicola Bulley drowned after falling into cold water in tragic accident - RECAP

Coroner admits what prompted fall into river remains a mystery

Nicola's death was recorded as accidental by Dr James Adeley, senior coroner for Lancashire.

He added that she drowned after falling into cold water and there was "no evidence" it was suicide.

However, he admitted the exact reason that prompted her to fall into the river remains a mystery.

Nicola's partner Paul suggested that she was juggling listening to a Teams conference call while stepping over to the water's edge to fit a harness on dog Willow.

Mum appeared 'completely normal' moments before vanishing while walking dog

But Dr Adeley said he still couldn't be sure that that series of events had led to her falling in.

He said something else might have occurred.

It is believed the mum fell into the river near this spot (PA)

14 revelations shared at inquest from her state of mind to family theory

The final day of Nicola's inquest, saw her death recorded as an accident after she fell into cold water - with "no evidence" of suicide.

Tuesday's proceedings have seen several members of her family address the court.

A number of key revelations surrounding events before and after her death have cropped up.

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Terry Wilcox, centre, solicitor of the Bulley family (James Maloney/Lancs Live)

Nicola Bulley's family hit out at 'amateur views'

The mum of two's family has said they are upset to still be targeted with negative messages about her death.

Speaking outside the inquest Terry Wilcox, of Hudgell Solicitors, on bhealf of the family said: "Sadly, we feel the need to again raise and address the issue of social media.

"It's upsetting that we've continued to receive negative targeted messages and still wildly inaccurate speculation being shared on numerous platforms."

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Nicola Bulley's family still receive 'negative messages'

Nicola Bulley's family have said they continue to receive "negative targeted messages" as well as seeing "wildly inaccurate speculation" on a number of platforms months after her death.

Reading the statement on behalf of the family outside County Hall, Preston, Terry Wilcox, of Hudgell Solicitors, said:

"The last few months have been extremely tough to process for our family.

"The emotional impact will stay long in our hearts and whilst we will never forget the loss of our Nikki, we will forever remember her as a brilliant mum, partner, daughter and sister that we all knew and loved so very much.

"The help and support we have received over these past few months has meant more than words can say.

"From family and friends to complete strangers across the country and the world, thank you."

She added: "Nikki and Paul's girls have already taken great comfort in the deeply thoughtful gifts sent to them in goodwill and in time they will read the many cards that are filled with such kindness and love.

"Sadly, we feel the need to again raise and address the issue of social media.

"It's upsetting that we've continued to receive negative targeted messages and still wildly inaccurate speculation being shared on numerous platforms."

Detective slams conspiracy theorists

A senior detective said she hoped the coroner's conclusion would put an end to "ill-informed speculation and conspiracy theories" surrounding Nicola Bulley's death.

Speaking outside Preston's County Hall, Lancashire Constabulary's head of crime Detective Chief Superintendent Pauline Stables said: "I hope that His Majesty's Coroner's clear and definitive findings will put an end to ill-informed speculation and conspiracy theories which have been so damaging to Nikki's family and the community of St Michael's.

Detective Chief Superintendent Pauline Stables during the search (Julian Hamilton/Daily Mirror)

"I would like to finish by bringing this back to Nikki. She was clearly a much-loved mum, partner, daughter, sister and friend.

"I would once again express my deepest sympathy to all her loved ones and I would ask that their privacy is respected at this time to allow them the time and space to rebuild and to heal."

Coroner's statement in full

Dr James Adeley, senior coroner for Lancashire has ruled Nicola Bulley's death was an accident.

Here is his statement in full:

"Excluding a couple of comments over the Christmas period when she was acting out of character and were treated as throw away comments, there was no indication of any intention to take her own life.

“Her behaviour in the week before hear death was back to normal, she had restarted her HRT therapy, stopped drinking some time before, was making plans for play dates and spa days with several people, was becoming increasingly successful at her new career as a mortgage broker and behaved entirely normally during her parents visit of the night before and with Paul Ansell on the morning of her death.

“The circumstances found after her death would also be extremely unusual for suicide where Nikki left Willow, a dog to who she was devoted and was described as a third child, alone on the river bank."

COLD WATER SHOCK

“Nikki would also had to have had sufficient knowledge of cold water shock to realise as to how rapidly a death may occur as otherwise she may be spotted and saved; that she chose to do so at the main intersection of paths where she could be interrupted at any point would be unusual and to leave her car keys in her pocket with the car in the school playground where her children, to whom she was devoted, would see it would be cruel.

“For these and many other reasons I discount a conclusion of suicide as there is no evidence to support this conclusion.

“There was also no natural disease that contributed to Nikki’s death. The remaining conclusion is that of accidental death."

Suicide and natural causes ruled out

The coroner, Dr James Adeley, said the medical cause of death was drowning.

He said although he is unable to determine why Nicola Bulley entered the water he thinks it likely she did so at 9.22am when her Fitbit recorded a significant spike in her heart rate.

Dr Adeley said: "On January 27 at around 9.22am Nicola Jane Bulley fell into the River Wyre and died almost immediately."

He ruled out suicide saying there "is no indication Nicola had any intention of taking her life" and added there were no signs of natural causes.

Coroner rules Nicola Bulley's death was accidental

Nicola Bulley, 45, drowned after falling into cold water, Dr James Adeley, senior coroner for Lancashire has concluded.

Speaking at the County Hall in Preston he made the ruling after hearing two days of evidence about the mum of two's death.

Before he adjourned to consider his decision, Sophie Cartwright KC implored him on the family's behalf to record a conclusion of accidental death.

Read the full story here

(PA)

Verdict expected shortly

Dr James Adeley, senior coroner for Lancashire, is currently in the courtroom going through the evidence he has heard over the last few days.

He has remineded the hearing:

Timeline

• Nicola was last seen alive by fellow dog-walker Claire Chesholm at 9.10am

• At 9.18am she adjusted the volume of her conference call

• PC Keith Greenhalgh examined Nikki’s Fitbit device- it recorded steps in 15 minute segments. On January 27 she walked 4,548 steps between 8am and 9.30am. Between 9.15am and 9.30am she walked 273 steps. No further steps after 9.30am

• At 9.22am the FitBit recorded a substantially increased heart rate

• Penny Fletcher arrived at the bench at 9.33am. Nicola was nowhere to be seen but Willow was found and the dog’s harness was found between the bench and the river

• Nicola was last seen alive at 9.10am, interacted with her phone at 9.18am and Mrs Fletcher found Willow at 9.33am. This provides a maximum window of time of 15 minutes when Nicola went into the river

Location

• The river bank had an “almost vertical drop”

• At the base a stone wall had been built to prevent further erosion and this provided no footholds or handholds. If you fell here you would certainly enter the water

• The opposite bank, 20 metres away, was also a difficult site to climb out

• On January 27 the Environment Agency said the flow over the weir was 0.49 metres. When police did a reconstruction the weir height was almost half this but even at that level it took a body over the weir

• The flow on the river on the day Nicola died made it “almost impossible” to get out

• Nicola would have been unable to reach the bottom of the river until she had travelled for “at least 40 metres” downstream

• Two world leading experts, Dr Paddy Morgan and Professor Mike Tipton, said Nicola would have been overwhelmed by cold water shock after falling into the water

• The water temperature was 3.6C would have elicited a powerful response in Nicola - not related to body size but the rapid cooling of the skin

• Nicola's clothing would not have slowed her response to cold water shock

Impact on her body

• Adrenalin is released immediately which can cause a person’s heart to stop instantaneously
• If this doesn’t occur there is an overwhelming urge to gasp. If Nicola’s head was underwater she could have inhaled two litres of water which would have been a lethal dose
  

• There was a good chance Nicola's first breath was underwater. Even if was above the water, if she then became submerged, an increased heart rate and blood rate would have used oxygen at a rate where she would have lost consciousness within 48 seconds. However, this was highly optimistic and it would more likely have been 30 seconds with increasingly impaired consciousness

• Such was the shock of immersion Nicola would have been unable to stand up or float

• She would have died before reaching the first point in the river where she could have touched the bottom

Wider circumstances

• Nikki had no alcohol in her bloodstream at the time of her death

• The cause of death was drowning

• The RNLI’s Float to Live campaign urges people to tilt their head back, relax, try to breathe normally and spread yourself out. Such education may save the lives of other people who are unlucky enough to enter cold water

• On the possible involvement of third parties: all of the witnesses who were in the area did not note anyone suspicious in the area of the field where Nicola was walking

• Det Supt Rebecca Smith said CCTV of three of the four entry points to the field shows nobody acting unusually. CCTV from the fourth point only showed one direction but this also showed nobody

• Police contacted the owners of 700 cars which passed the road and examined dashcam footage. Nothing unusual was spotted

• Dr Armour said there was no evidence Nicola was assaulted nor that a third-party was involved

• Although two women heard a scream it was not of a nature which caused concern and was some distance from where Nicola was. At the time they were heard Nicola was probably already dead

His verdict is expected imminently.

What we know after the second day of the inquest

Today, on the second day of the inquest into Nicola Bulley's death we have heard evidence from her parents, Ernest and Dorothy who said everything was normal before she disappeared.

The mum of two's last text message, arranging a play date for her daughters, was also read out.

Her partner Paul Ansell's last text to Nicola was also read out, asking if she had got lost.

We heard from her GP who gave evidence that she was not suicidal, despite some concerns over her increased drinking.

The hearing also heard evidence from Nicola's sister Louise Cunningham who recalled her last time with her.

Nicola Bulley's partner reveals how he believes she ended up in water

Speaking at the second day of her inquest today, partner Paul Ansell said he thinks she went to put on Willow's harness before falling into the water.

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.”

He added: "We would always take the harness off before going through the gate. Because she’s a springer she’s very erratic and into the bushes so anything that is on her that could get caught we used to take it off."

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Family believe death was a 'tragic accident'

Nicola Bulley’s family believe her death was accidental, their lawyer has told an inquest.

Sophie Cartwright KC said: “What happened on the river bank shortly after 9.18am was a tragic accident.”

Ms Cartwright added: “There has been much rumour and suspicion and speculation around Nikki’s death but the family are very clearly of the view and submit to you that that rumour and speculation is allayed completely when looking at all the evidence.”

She added the family believe “Nikki’s death would have occurred very shortly after she entered the water”.

(PA)

Coroner breaks to consider evidence

All the evidence has now been heard at the inquest in to Nicola's death.

The coroner will now spend some time to consider a conclusion.

He plans to return to deliver that at 2.15pm when he will also sum up the evidence.

Nicola's dad sobs as he remembers her as a child

Nicola Bulley’s father Ernest cried as he paid tribute to his daughter during the hearing.

He said: “As a child she was lovely, a little ballerina, she always danced around in her tutu; she was great.

"She was a great daughter, sister and mother, we couldn’t ask for any more from her.”

Nicola Bulley's mum says 'everything was normal' day before she vanished

Nicola Bulley’s mother said “everything was normal” the day before her daughter died.

Dorothy Bulley, who cried while giving evidence at the inquest, said she picked up Ms Bulley’s daughters from school on January 26, and looked after them that evening.

She said: “We sorted the girls out and everything was normal.”

Members of the public leave a message of hope tied to a bridge over the River Wyre, during the search for Nicola Bulley (PA)

Nicola Bulley's parents to give evidence

Nicola Bulley's parents, Dot and Ernie, are to give evidence to the hearing now.

The couple were said to be visibly emotional, and were not originally listed to give evidence.

Ms Bulley's parents, Ernest, 73, and Dot, 72, speaking about their daughter's disappearance

Paul Ansell broke down crying during evidence

Paul Ansell, Nicola Bulley's partner, broke down crying as he gave evidence during the second day of evidence.

Describing how Ms Bulley was "an incredible mum" he broke down in tears and had to step out for five minutes.

He finished his evidence saying: "Anyone that saw her would not have thought anything happened... If you didn’t know Nikki, anybody who met her would still have loved her.”

Why the dog harness was taken off

Paul Ansell, during his time giving evidence this morning, explained why the harness was removed from the family dog Willow, and placed on the bench.

This has been the subject of a number of vile conspiracy theories online.

Paul explained: "We would always take the harness off before going through the gate. Because she’s a springer she’s very erratic and into the bushes so anything that is on her that could get caught we used to take it off."

Asked why the harness was in the grass and the phone on bench, he replied: "When she got back to the bench she is still listening to a conference call. She must have put the phone on the bench and then gone to put the harness back on Willow.”

Candles are lit around a photo of Ms Bulley and her partner (PA)

'She was an incredible mum'

Nicola Bulley’s partner broke down in tears during his evidence at the inquest and had to leave the room.

Paul Ansell had said: “She was an incredible mum.”

He said in his witness statement: “Nikki was a quiet person who enjoyed the simple side of life.

“She was a very private person and kept herself to herself.”

He then started crying and was taken away.

Nicola Bulley husband reveals what he thinks happened to missing mum as he text her 'have you got lost?'

Nicola Bulley’s partner told the inquest into her death what he thinks happened to the missing mum.

Nicola Bulley had been walking the family dog Willow along the River Wyre before she fell in.

Paul Ansell said he believes she went to put a harness on her dog shortly before falling into the water.

Ms Bulley’s mobile phone was still connected to a work Teams call when it was found on a bench overlooking the water.

Paul 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.”

Paul Ansell, Nicola Bulley and their two kids

On the day he sent her a text message saying: “Have you got lost?”

Ms Bulley had a meeting planned for 11am that day, then she had "quite a lot of paperwork to get ready" for another meeting in the afternoon, he explained.

So when it passed 10.30am he "started to feel a bit concerned".

Nicola Bulley’s partner said she made “throwaway comments” the month before her death.

Dr James Adeley, senior coroner for Lancashire, asked Paul Ansell if Ms Bulley had any suicidal thoughts.

Mr Ansell replied: “There were a couple of throwaway comments during the blip period but nothing that gave me any concern.”

Nicola Bulley's partner Paul Ansell says she was 'looking forward to the future'

Nicola Bulley’s partner said she had been “looking forward to the future” before her disappearance.

Paul Ansell, giving evidence at the inquest, said: “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.”

He went on: “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.

Paul Ansell, partner of Nicola Bulley (PA)

"She was getting back into her work, she was excited, it was going really well. She had worked so hard. She was happy about earning her own money and getting that independence again."

The coroner asked about the morning she went missing: “It was just a normal morning?” and he replied “yes."

He added: "She would always do two loops of that field before heading back to the bench and picking the car up from school.”

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Nicola Bulley was making future plans the morning she went missing

Nicola Bulley was making plans with her sister the morning that she disappeared, the inquest heard.

Giving evidence, Louise told the coroner that the two sisters had childhood nicknames for each other.

Nicola was Clacker and Louise was Tosh.

On the morning Nicola disappeared, Louise text her sister on WhatsApp and they were talking about booking a spa day. Louise booked the trip that morning, text her at 8.52am and then signed off the text ‘Tosher’.

Louise began crying as she said: “Literally I was saying it was booked but she never picked up the message.” The sisters were due to go to Ribby Hall for a spa day on March 18 using a voucher Nicola’s daughters had bought her for Mother’s Day in 2022.

Nicola Bulley and sister Louise Cunningham (Sky)

Sophie Cartwright KC, representing the family, said: “Would it be fair to say you were incredibly close sisters?” to which Louise said “yes”. The barrister continued: “Not just incredibly close but you come from a very loving family. You were brought up down south but mum and dad moved north to be near their girls. We talked about hobbies but is it fair to say Nikki’s hobby was family?” Louise responded: “Yes.”

Louise went on to explain she is wearing Nicola's dress today in the inquest. Their parents had given it to Nicola for Christmas but she didn’t like it so gave it to Louise.

According to Louise, Nicola worked for Love Homes in Garstand and had a "really successful work meeting" the day before she disappeared. She was "excited about her career", Louise added.

Nicola Bulley's last moments recreated in police video and shown at inquest

'No way Nikki would leave Willow unattended' missing mums sister says

Nicola Bulley's sister gives evidence to inquest

Speaking on the second day of the inquest, Louise Cunningham said her sister Nicola Bulley spoke to her about having problems sleeping.

Asked if she spoke about menopausal symptoms with her, Ms Cunningham said: “She discussed having some symptoms with the HRT, it was back in the summer (of 2022).

“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.”

Heightening security outside County Hall, where Lancashire's Senior Coroner Dr James Adeley will investigate the death of the mum-of-two Nicola Bulley during two days of evidence in Preston this week (James Maloney/Lancs Live)

Police and paramedic attended missing mum's home over concerns for her welfare

Mental health clinician Theresa Lewis Leevy attended Nicola Bulley's home along with a police officer and a paramedic, over concerns for her welfare.

They attended on January 10, and 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.”

A police Search and Rescue team in Knott End-on-Sea, Lancashire, on the southern side of Morecambe Bay, as police searched for Nicola Bulley (PA)

They were asked to attend by Ms Bulley's sister Ms Cunningham as the family was concerned with her increased alcohol use and the impression she “didn’t want to be here”. The team arrived at Nicola’s home at 7.30pm.

The conversation with Ms Leevy was “quite brief” and Ms Bulley then said she was tired and wanted to go to bed.

She was advised to go and see the GP the following day but she said she couldn’t as she was sorting her mortgage out.

However, when Ms Leevy spoke to Nicola’s partner Paul he said there “wasn’t an issue with the mortgage and it wasn’t something that was being done the following day”.

Nicola Bulley's sister breaks down in tears during inquest

Nicola Bulley's sister broke down in tears during the inquest, when she was asked what type of person the mum-of-two was.

Louise Cunningham was due to give evidence at the hearing on its second day.

She broke down crying and had to be passed a tissue, as she said "she was my big sister ... very much a planner.

“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.”

Nicola Bulley and her sister Louise Cunningham

She continued: “Every Christmas mum and dad would buy her a Springer Spaniel calender and every January Nikki would transfer everything onto the new one with a colour-coded system.

“Before having the girls she was a mortgage advisor… after the kids she re-sat her exams. She was just getting back into a routine of work again and she was absolutely brilliant.”

According to Louise, Nicola had a “special bond with Willow”. She said: “He was like her third child. She would always find time in her day to take Willow for a walk.”

Nicola Bulley went to A&E weeks before she vanished

'Nothing' in Nicola Bulley medical records to suggest she was suicidal, GP says

Nicola Bulley's GP recalls how mum's brain felt like it 'was overloaded'

Talking to the inquest on its second day, Nicola Bulley's GP Rebecca Gray, said Nicola sometimes struggled with sleeping.

She told a nurse at her GP surgery that "it felt like her brain was overloaded".

Police officers walk past flowers and yellow ribbons tied to a bridge for Nicola Bulley over the River Wyre in St Michael's on Wyre (PA)