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| Nicola Bulley died by drowning, inquest hears | Nicola Bulley died by drowning, inquest hears |
| (32 minutes 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. |
| The 45-year-old went missing from St Michael's on Wyre in Lancashire in January, prompting a major search. | The 45-year-old went missing from St Michael's on Wyre in Lancashire in January, prompting a major search. |
| It took more than three weeks for her body to be found in the River Wyre - a mile away from where she was last seen. | It took more than three weeks for her body to be found in the River Wyre - a mile away from where she was last seen. |
| The inquest also heard from various passers-by who saw Ms Bulley, with one saying she looked "absolutely idyllic". | The inquest also heard from various passers-by who saw Ms Bulley, with one saying she looked "absolutely idyllic". |
| Another described her as "not happy" but "not sad". | Another described her as "not happy" but "not sad". |
| One woman whose garden is close to the river told how she heard a scream, which she later reported after hearing of Ms Bulley's disappearance. | |
| Home Office pathologist Dr Alison Armour, giving evidence at the hearing in County Hall, Preston, said there was "no evidence" of any third-party involvement. | Home Office pathologist Dr Alison Armour, giving evidence at the hearing in County Hall, Preston, said 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 |
| Paracetamol and a prescription beta-blocker called propranolol were found but in very small amounts, not considered to be an "overdose", she said. | |
| She noted Ms Bulley's body had clearly been in the river for some time. | |
| Dr Armour said: "I conclude the cause of death as drowning. The lungs themselves showed classical features we see in drownings. | Dr 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." | "In my opinion, Nicola Bulley 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. |
| The mortgage advisor's disappearance led to intense public interest, criticism of police and media, and a social media frenzy of conspiracy theories. | The mortgage advisor's 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. |
| She vanished while walking her dog by the river after dropping off her daughters, aged six and nine, at school. | She vanished while walking her dog by the river after dropping off her daughters, aged six and nine, at school. |
| Nicola Bulley's inquest is expected to last two days | Nicola Bulley's inquest is expected to last two days |
| 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. |
| A police underwater search specialist said he believed Ms Bulley fell into the river before floating downstream. | A police underwater search specialist said he believed Ms Bulley fell into the river before floating downstream. |
| In a video shown to the court, PC Matthew Thackray said: "There is a large vertical slope from the bench and into the water. | In a video shown to the court, PC Matthew Thackray said: "There is a large vertical slope from the bench and into the water. |
| "On the day there was a steady flow downstream. | "On the day there was a steady flow downstream. |
| "The river was 4C, so almost freezing, and if she fell in the muscles would probably seize making it difficult to swim properly." | "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. | He estimated she would have floated at a "metre a second" downstream. |
| 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 |
| 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". | 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". |
| "There would be a particularly powerful cold-shock response," he said. | |
| He added there would have been a "fairly rapid incapacitation". | |
| A mother who bumped into Ms Bulley on the morning of her disappearance said she felt there was "nothing of concern". | A mother who bumped into Ms Bulley on the morning of her disappearance said she felt there was "nothing of concern". |
| Kay Kiernan, a receptionist, said she spoke to Ms Bulley about her dog Willow while dropping off her children at school at just after 08:30 GMT. | |
| She said: "She was not happy, but who is on a Friday-morning school run? She wasn't sad, just how I normally knew her." | She said: "She was not happy, but who is on a Friday-morning school run? She wasn't sad, just how I normally knew her." |
| A statement from an eye-witness Richard Fife, a local heating engineer, said he saw a "man in black" waiting on the road and two other dog-walkers - one man and one woman, both of whom Mr Fife said he knew by sight. | A statement from an eye-witness Richard Fife, a local heating engineer, said he saw a "man in black" waiting on the road and two other dog-walkers - one man and one woman, both of whom Mr Fife said he knew by sight. |
| He then saw Ms Bulley holding her phone out in front of her, something he had seen her do a few times before, but said it was too far away to hear if she was talking. | He then saw Ms Bulley holding her phone out in front of her, something he had seen her do a few times before, but said it was too far away to hear if she was talking. |
| As he returned toward his car, he saw the man in black again. He said this struck him as odd as he did not recognise the man, and that some days later, after Ms Bulley was reported missing, he mentioned the man to police in case it was of value. | As he returned toward his car, he saw the man in black again. He said this struck him as odd as he did not recognise the man, and that some days later, after Ms Bulley was reported missing, he mentioned the man to police in case it was of value. |
| Claire Chesham described seeing Ms Bulley twice during the route she took. | Claire Chesham described seeing Ms Bulley twice during the route she took. |
| The women had a brief exchange with their dogs, something they would do on a regular basis, she said. | The women had a brief exchange with their dogs, something they would do on a regular basis, she said. |
| Ms Chesham described her view of Ms Bulley as "absolutely idyllic" and Willow was on a long lead and playing. | Ms Chesham described her view of Ms Bulley as "absolutely idyllic" and Willow was on a long lead and playing. |
| She said she had not noticed "anything unusual" about either the location or Ms Bulley, and the only other people she saw were familiar to her. | She said she had not noticed "anything unusual" about either the location or Ms Bulley, and the only other people she saw were familiar to her. |
| The inquest has heard from various passers-by who saw Ms Bulley before she disappeared | |
| Penny Fletcher described the moment she discovered Ms Bulley's phone and dog. | Penny Fletcher described the moment she discovered Ms Bulley's phone and dog. |
| Ms Fletcher, who runs a nearby campsite, said: "I saw a springer spaniel loose, it was near the bench and going right towards the river where it drops down very steeply. | Ms Fletcher, who runs a nearby campsite, said: "I saw a springer spaniel loose, it was near the bench and going right towards the river where it drops down very steeply. |
| "I wouldn't say it was acting chaotic at all, it was a bit giddy, yes." | "I wouldn't say it was acting chaotic at all, it was a bit giddy, yes." |
| Ms Fletcher said she found the phone, as well as a dog harness, and tied Willow to the bench. | Ms Fletcher said she found the phone, as well as a dog harness, and tied Willow to the bench. |
| She later found out it was Ms Bulley's dog and heard she had gone missing. | She later found out it was Ms Bulley's dog and heard she had gone missing. |
| Ms Fletcher called Susan Jones, a retired care worker, who later bumped into Ms Fletcher's daughter-in-law, who recognised a photograph of Ms Bulley and her family on the phone lock screen. | Ms Fletcher called Susan Jones, a retired care worker, who later bumped into Ms Fletcher's 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, Paul Ansell. | She told the court she rang the local school, before speaking to Ms Bulley's partner, Paul Ansell. |
| 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. | |
| It was only later, upon hearing of Ms Bulley's disappearance, that she decided to report it. | |
| She said: "I vividly remember thinking it's unusual at this time. | |
| "In my head, I had two females, walking along by the river and one jumped out on the other. I didn't think anything of it until later on." | |
| Veronia Claesen, who had dropped her children at school and had seen Ms Bulley in the carpark 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. | |
| "It was an inhale scream" she said, a sharp intake of breath. | |
| 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 |