This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-66018326
The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 11 | Version 12 |
|---|---|
| Missing woman died by drowning, inquest hears | |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Nicola Bulley was last seen during a riverside walk on 27 January | Nicola Bulley was last seen during a riverside walk on 27 January |
| Nicola Bulley died as a result of drowning and there was no evidence she had been harmed before she fell into the water, her inquest has heard. | Nicola Bulley died as a result of drowning and there was no evidence she had been harmed before she fell into the water, her inquest has heard. |
| Two women said they heard a scream where the 45-year-old was last seen in St Michael's on Wyre on 27 January. | Two women said they heard a scream where the 45-year-old was last seen in St Michael's on Wyre on 27 January. |
| Her body was found in the River Wyre, about a mile away from where she went missing, more than three weeks later. | Her body was found in the River Wyre, about a mile away from where she went missing, more than three weeks later. |
| Experts told the hearing that entering cold water can cause a person to gasp and inhale water and drown in seconds. | Experts told the hearing that entering cold water can cause a person to gasp and inhale water and drown in seconds. |
| Preston Coroner's Court also heard from various passers-by who saw Ms Bulley in the Lancashire village on the morning she disappeared. | Preston Coroner's Court also heard from various passers-by who saw Ms Bulley in the Lancashire village on the morning she disappeared. |
| One said she looked "absolutely idyllic", while another described her as "not happy" but "not sad". | One said she looked "absolutely idyllic", while another described her as "not happy" but "not sad". |
| Home Office pathologist Dr Alison Armour told the hearing there was no evidence of any third-party involvement. | Home Office pathologist Dr Alison Armour told the hearing there was no evidence of any third-party involvement. |
| The pathologist also said Ms Bulley had not been drinking before her death. | The pathologist also said Ms Bulley had not been drinking before her death. |
| Coroner Dr James Adeley asked her: "At the time of her death she had no alcohol in her bloodstream?" | Coroner Dr James Adeley asked her: "At the time of her death she had no alcohol in her bloodstream?" |
| Dr Armour replied: "That's my opinion." | Dr Armour replied: "That's my opinion." |
| Nicola Bulley's mobile phone was found on bench near the spot where she was last seen | Nicola Bulley's mobile phone was found on bench near the spot where she was last seen |
| She said paracetamol and a prescription beta-blocker called propranolol were found, but in very small amounts and nothing that could be considered an overdose. | She said paracetamol and a prescription beta-blocker called propranolol were found, but in very small amounts and nothing that could be considered an overdose. |
| Noting Ms Bulley's body had clearly been in the river for some time, she said she had concluded the cause of death was drowning. | Noting Ms Bulley's body had clearly been in the river for some time, she said she had concluded the cause of death was drowning. |
| She said Ms Bulley's lungs "showed classical features we see in drownings" and it was her opinion that the mortgage advisor "was alive when she entered the water". | She said Ms Bulley's lungs "showed classical features we see in drownings" and it was her opinion that the mortgage advisor "was alive when she entered the water". |
| Ms Bulley's partner Paul Ansell and sister Louise Cunningham are among the witnesses set to give evidence at the two-day hearing. | Ms Bulley's partner Paul Ansell and sister Louise Cunningham are among the witnesses set to give evidence at the two-day hearing. |
| 'Fairly rapid incapacitation' | 'Fairly rapid incapacitation' |
| Ms Bulley vanished while walking her dog by the river after dropping off her daughters, aged six and nine, at school. | Ms Bulley vanished while walking her dog by the river after dropping off her daughters, aged six and nine, at school. |
| Her dog was found shortly afterwards and her mobile phone was discovered on a bench overlooking the water - still connected to a work conference call. | Her dog was found shortly afterwards and her mobile phone was discovered on a bench overlooking the water - still connected to a work conference call. |
| Her disappearance led to intense public interest, criticism of police and media, and a social media frenzy of conspiracy theories. | Her disappearance led to intense public interest, criticism of police and media, and a social media frenzy of conspiracy theories. |
| Lancashire Police came under fire after revealing Ms Bulley's struggles with alcohol and perimenopause. | Lancashire Police came under fire after revealing Ms Bulley's struggles with alcohol and perimenopause. |
| Nicola Bulley family 'agony' after a body is found | Nicola Bulley family 'agony' after a body is found |
| Nicola Bulley: Why can it take so long to find bodies? | Nicola Bulley: Why can it take so long to find bodies? |
| Why TikTok sleuths descended on Nicola Bulley’s village | Why TikTok sleuths descended on Nicola Bulley’s village |
| In a video shown to the court, PC Matthew Thackray said there was "a large vertical slope" from the bench where her phone was found down to the water. | In a video shown to the court, PC Matthew Thackray said there was "a large vertical slope" from the bench where her phone was found down to the water. |
| He said there was a "steady flow downstream" on the day and the river was 4C, "so almost freezing". | He said there was a "steady flow downstream" on the day and the river was 4C, "so almost freezing". |
| "If she fell in, the muscles would probably seize, making it difficult to swim properly," he said. | "If she fell in, the muscles would probably seize, making it difficult to swim properly," he said. |
| He estimated she would have floated at a "metre a second" downstream. | He estimated she would have floated at a "metre a second" downstream. |
| Prof Michael Tipton, a University of Portsmouth expert who supports search and rescue operators such as the RNLI, said just two breaths of water would have been a "lethal dose". | Prof Michael Tipton, a University of Portsmouth expert who supports search and rescue operators such as the RNLI, said just two breaths of water would have been a "lethal dose". |
| He said there "would be a particularly powerful cold-shock response", which would have led to a "fairly rapid incapacitation". | He said there "would be a particularly powerful cold-shock response", which would have led to a "fairly rapid incapacitation". |
| 'Inhale scream' | 'Inhale scream' |
| A mother who bumped into Ms Bulley on the morning of her disappearance told the court she felt there was "nothing of concern". | A mother who bumped into Ms Bulley on the morning of her disappearance told the court she felt there was "nothing of concern". |
| Kay Kiernan said she spoke to Ms Bulley about her dog Willow while dropping off her children at school at just after 08:30 GMT. | Kay Kiernan said she spoke to Ms Bulley about her dog Willow while dropping off her children at school at just after 08:30 GMT. |
| "She was not happy, but who is on a Friday-morning school run?" she said. | "She was not happy, but who is on a Friday-morning school run?" she said. |
| "She wasn't sad, just how I normally knew her." | "She wasn't sad, just how I normally knew her." |
| Claire Chesham also described seeing Ms Bulley twice during the route she took and having a brief exchange with their dogs, something they would do on a regular basis. | Claire Chesham also described seeing Ms Bulley twice during the route she took and having a brief exchange with their dogs, something they would do on a regular basis. |
| She said Ms Bulley was "absolutely idyllic" and she had not noticed "anything unusual" about either the location or Ms Bulley. | She said Ms Bulley was "absolutely idyllic" and she had not noticed "anything unusual" about either the location or Ms Bulley. |
| The court also heard from Penny Fletcher, who found Ms Bulley's phone and dog. | The court also heard from Penny Fletcher, who found Ms Bulley's phone and dog. |
| She said she found the phone and a dog harness and tied Willow to the bench, only later finding out it was Ms Bulley's dog and hearing she had gone missing. | She said she found the phone and a dog harness and tied Willow to the bench, only later finding out it was Ms Bulley's dog and hearing she had gone missing. |
| It was her daughter-in-law who recognised a photograph of Ms Bulley and her family on the phone lock screen. | It was her daughter-in-law who recognised a photograph of Ms Bulley and her family on the phone lock screen. |
| She told the court she rang the local school, before speaking to Ms Bulley's partner. | She told the court she rang the local school, before speaking to Ms Bulley's partner. |
| Helen O'Neil, whose garden is near the bench and river path, said she heard a scream, but she did not find it alarming at first. | Helen O'Neil, whose garden is near the bench and river path, said she heard a scream, but she did not find it alarming at first. |
| She told the court it was only later, upon hearing of Ms Bulley's disappearance, that she decided to report it, adding: "I vividly remember thinking it's unusual at this time." | She told the court it was only later, upon hearing of Ms Bulley's disappearance, that she decided to report it, adding: "I vividly remember thinking it's unusual at this time." |
| Veronia Claesen, who had dropped her children at school and had seen Ms Bulley in the car park, also heard a scream. | Veronia Claesen, who had dropped her children at school and had seen Ms Bulley in the car park, also heard a scream. |
| She said she initially thought someone was "mucking about", adding it was the kind of noise she may make if someone made her jump. | She said she initially thought someone was "mucking about", adding it was the kind of noise she may make if someone made her jump. |
| "It was an inhale scream, a sharp intake of breath," she said. | "It was an inhale scream, a sharp intake of breath," she said. |
| The inquest heard from various passers-by who saw Ms Bulley before she disappeared | The inquest heard from various passers-by who saw Ms Bulley before she disappeared |
| Det Supt Rebecca Smith, who investigated the disappearance, said Ms Bulley's Fitbit watch and Mercedes car keys were recovered along with her body. | Det Supt Rebecca Smith, who investigated the disappearance, said Ms Bulley's Fitbit watch and Mercedes car keys were recovered along with her body. |
| Police digital specialist Det Con Keith Greenhalgh said the Fitbit stopped recording steps beyond 09:30 on the day Ms Bulley vanished and his "initial thoughts" had been that the device lost power on 4 February. | Police digital specialist Det Con Keith Greenhalgh said the Fitbit stopped recording steps beyond 09:30 on the day Ms Bulley vanished and his "initial thoughts" had been that the device lost power on 4 February. |
| He added that analysis of iPhone and Fitbit watch data suggested Ms Bulley "very possibly" entered the water at 09:22 on 27 January. | He added that analysis of iPhone and Fitbit watch data suggested Ms Bulley "very possibly" entered the water at 09:22 on 27 January. |
| The hearing continues. | The hearing continues. |
| Why not follow BBC North West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram? You can also send story ideas to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk | Why not follow BBC North West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram? You can also send story ideas to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Inskip | Inskip |
| St Michaels on Wyre | St Michaels on Wyre |
| Nicola Bulley disappearance | Nicola Bulley disappearance |