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

Nicola Bulley would have found it ‘almost impossible’ to swim against current, experts say

Former officer 'appalled' by 'mishandling' of Nicola Bulley investigation

Nicola Bulley’s family slammed online trolls after a coroner ruled that the mother-of-two died by accident after falling into a river near her home.

A statement issued outside the court on behalf of Ms Bulley’s family urged people “people to look at the facts” and ignore on those spreading baseless theories on the internet.

“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,” the statement said.

Ms Bulley died after accidentally falling into the River Wyre in freezing temperatures, an inquest into her death concluded.

She was walking her springer spaniel Willow when she accidentally fell into the water, with experts stating it would have been “almost impossible to swim against the current”.

Key Points

• Family slam online trolls and urge people to ‘look at the facts'
• Nicola Bulley died by accident after falling into river, coroner rules
• Husband reveals text to wife on day she disappeared
• Paul Ansell reported concerns about wife Nicola’s alcohol use days before she went missing
• Nicola first reported low mood and anxiety in 2018
• Inquest resumes
• Mother-of-two's Fitbit reported heart rate 8 days after she drowned

[27 June 2023 11:33 · Matt Mathers]

‘She was absolutely fuming with me'

Speaking of the incident on January 10, Ms Cunningham said: “She was absolutely fuming with me to call the ambulance, she thought I was overreacting and maybe I was but she’s my sister and I wanted a professional opinion.

Holly Evans reports:

“From then, I think that was a realisation for her as she started to get back to normal.”

Over the following days, she completed two modules for a refresher financial course and received 90 per cent in both.

Ms Bulley had also planned a spa day with her sister and they had exchanged a number of messages on January 26 and the morning she disappeared.

“I confirmed that it was booked but she never picked up the message,” she tearfully said.

[27 June 2023 11:42 · Matt Mathers]

‘Have you got lost?'

Nicola Bulley’s partner told the inquest into her death he believes she went to put a harness on her dog shortly before falling into the River Wyre, Holly Evans reports.

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.”

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

Nicola Bulley (Family handout) (PA Media)

[27 June 2023 11:44 · Matt Mathers]

‘Everything was on the up'

When asked if he had any further to note about Ms Bulley’s mental state, her husband Paul Ansell, said: "Other than the blip over the Christmas period and in January she was back to herself, looking forward to the future and everything was on the up”. Holly Evans reports:

In terms of her behaviour in the week before January 27, he said: "She was doing good, she was getting back into her work, she was excited about her work and it was going really well. She’d worked so hard passing her exams, starting off on her exams and spent months last year doing an awful lot of hard work to build the business up and she was starting to see the rewards for that and generating business. She was excited with how it was looking."

Describing it as “just a normal morning”, Mr Ansell said that Ms Bulley had a positive business meeting the previous day and had been “full of beans”. She had been due to attend two meetings later that day with an estate agents company and had been “ready for the day ahead” and that “everything was in a good place”.

[27 June 2023 11:58 · Matt Mathers]

‘Quiet person who enjoyed simple life'

Reading from Mr Ansell’s statement, Sophie Cartwright KC, the lawyer representing the family, summarised that Ms Bulley was a “quiet person who enjoyed the simpler side of life” who “adored nothing more than a walk with Willow or a walk with her family in the hills”, Holly Evans reports.

Becoming emotional, Mr Ansell nodded his agreement and said: “We worked well together, I guess I gave her a bit of spontaneousness and she planned things where I needed that.”

[27 June 2023 12:10 · Matt Mathers]

‘Everything was normal'

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

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.” Her husband Ernest described it as a "lovely evening" and that Nicola had been pleased with her recent work meetings and her hope of closing a new deal.

He said: "She was a great daughter, sister and mother, we couldn’t ask anymore from her."

[27 June 2023 12:32 · Matt Mathers]

Family lawyer asks coroner to record accidental death

Giving her closing summary, Ms Cartwright KC asked the Coroner to record a conclusion of accidental death, Holly Evans reports.

She said that what occurred to Ms Bulley on the riverbank that day had been a "tragic accident" and that she had been in "good spirits", with text messages and work meeting to confirm that.

She added that while there had been "much rumour and speculation" about Ms Bulley’s death, the family were of the view that any speculation had been allayed by the expert opinion, and were "comforted" that her death would only have taken a matter of seconds.

[27 June 2023 13:20 · Matt Mathers]

ICYMI: Nicola Bulley - 10 key things we learned from day one of inquest

Here are 10 things we learned from the first day of the inquest.

William Mata reports:

[27 June 2023 13:40 · Matt Mathers]

ICYMI: Diving expert who led private search for Nicola Bulley says he hasn’t been asked for evidence at 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.

Lucy Skoulding reports:

[27 June 2023 15:22 · Matt Mathers]

Family slam online trolls - ‘look at the facts'

Nicola Bulley’s family slammed online trolls after a coroner ruled that the mother-of-two died by accident after falling into a river near her home.

A statement issued outside the court on behalf of Ms Bulley’s family urged people “people to look at the facts and ignore any amateur views and opinions”.

The statement said:”The last few months have been extremely tough to process for the family. The emotional impact will stay long in our hearts and whilst we’ll never get over the loss of our Nikki, we will forever remember her as the brilliant mum, partner, daughter and sister that we all knew and loved so very much.

“The help and support we have received over these few months has meant more than words can say. From family and friends, to complete strangers across the country and world, thank you. 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 which 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 witness wildly inaccurate speculation being shared over numerous platforms.

“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. We want to formally say thank you for the support and compassion showed by Lancashire Constabulary, HM Coroner Dr Adeley, his team, Sophie Cartwright KC of Dean Court Chambers, and Terry Wilcox of Hudgell Solicitors.

“Now we need to be allowed time to comprehend all of the events leading up to this day.

“We ask that you all respect our privacy at this time, let us rebuild and take time to heal.”

[27 June 2023 15:38 · Joe Middleton]

Nicola Bulley’s husband called NHS for help after mother of two suffered mental health ‘blip’

Nicola Bulley’s concerned family contacted emergency services to seek help for her increased alcohol use just days before she was reported missing, an inquest has heard.

Mental health clinician Theresa Lewis Leevy told Preston County Hall she had responded to a call made by Ms Bulley’s husband Paul Ansell and her sister on January 10, and attended their home address alongside a police officer and a paramedic.

“We were greeted by Nicola’s partner and sister and shown to the living room where we had a conversation about increased alcohol use since Christmas time and a conversation about concerns for Nicola’s welfare,” she said.

Holly Evans reports.