Nicola Bulley inquest live: Mother-of-two died after falling into River Wyre in freezing temperatures

Detective Chief Superintendent Pauline Stables, Head of Crime, Lancashire Constabulary, said: “I want to start by saying that first and foremost my thoughts today are with Nikki’s family and loved ones.

“They have been through the most unimaginable ordeal over the last six months, and I can only hope that this inquest will help in some small way by answering some of the questions they had about what happened to Nikki on January 27 and will allow them to start the process of rebuilding their lives as best as they can.

“I would like to thank Dr Adeley for his careful consideration of the evidence presented to this inquest as well as legal counsel and all of the witnesses for their participation.

“I hope that HM Coroner’s clear and definitive findings will put an end ill-informed speculation and conspiracy theories which have been so damaging to Nikki’s family, the community of St Michael’s.

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

The inquest into the death of mother-of-two Nicola Bulley, beginning on Monday (26 June), has now concluded.

The 45-year-old vanished after dropping her daughters at school and then walking her dog along the River Wyre in St Michael’s on Wyre, Lancashire, on 27 January.

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.

Emily Atkinson and William Mata outline the timeline of events leading to the inquest:

The diving specialist who led a private search for Nicola Bulley in Lancashire has said he has not been asked to give evidence at her inquest.

Peter Faulding, CEO of Specialist Group International (SGI), who had assisted police with previous missing persons investigations, was asked by Ms Bulley’s family to help with the search after she disappeared near her home in St Michael’s on Wyre in January.

His team spent three days scanning a three-mile stretch of the River Wyre using sonar equipment, but did not find any trace of the mother-of-two in the section of the river they searched.

Lancashire Police have released an image from Ring doorbell footage showing Nicola Bulley, her partner Paul Ansell and her children leaving their home on the morning of her disappearance.

The image was shown as evidence at the two-day inquest into her death at County Hall in Preston, Lancashire.

Mother-of-two Nicola Bulley died after accidentally falling into the River Wyre in freezing temperatures, an inquest has concluded.

The 45-year-old mortgage adviser was walking her springer spaniel when she accidentally fell into the water in St Michael’s, Lancashire, with experts stating it would have been “almost impossible to swim against the current”.

Bulley would have suffered cold water shock which would have produced a “powerful response”, causing her to inhale a fatal amount of water and lose consciousness within a maximum of 45 seconds, the inquest heard.

A Home Office pathologist told the inquest at Preston County Hall that her cause of death was drowning and that there had been no evidence of any third-party involvement.

Holly Evans reports from the second day of the inquest.

Nicola Bulley was alive when she entered the water of the River Wyre and was not under the influence of alcohol, an inquest has heard.

Giving evidence at the two-day hearing, Home Office pathologist Dr Alison Armour said there is “no evidence” that Nicola Bulley was assaulted or harmed as her cause of death was confirmed as drowning.

The 45-year-old mortgage adviser disappeared on January 27 after dropping her two daughters, aged six and nine, at school and then taking her springer spaniel Willow for a walk along the river in St Michael’s on Wyre.

Holly Evans reports.

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

Paul Ansell, giving evidence at the inquest on Tuesday, 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.”

Nicola Bulley’s family have slammed the “wildly inaccurate speculation” online over her death after an inquest found no evidence of third-party involvement.

A two-day hearing into 45-year-old mortgage adviser’s accidental death has found there was nothing to suggest she was assaulted or harmed after she disappeared on 27 January.

Speaking after the coroner’s verdict on Tuesday, the family urged the public “to look at the facts the evidence that has been heard during the inquest, and the conclusion reached by the coroner and to ignore any amateur views and opinions and be mindful of the impact words bring”.

Matt Drake reports.