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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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | "There would be a particularly powerful cold-shock response," he said. |
| He added there would have been a "fairly rapid incapacitation". | 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. | 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." |
| The inquest has heard from various passers-by who saw Ms Bulley before she disappeared | The inquest has heard from various passers-by who saw Ms Bulley before she disappeared |
| A statement from an eye-witness Richard Fife, a local heating engineer, said he saw a "man in black" who he did not recognise and later mentioned it to police in case it was of value. | A statement from an eye-witness Richard Fife, a local heating engineer, said he saw a "man in black" who he did not recognise and later mentioned it to police in case it was of value. |
| He said he 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 said he 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. |
| 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. |
| 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 she found the phone, as well as a dog harness, and tied Willow to the bench. | Ms Fletcher, who runs a nearby campsite, 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. | 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. | 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." | She said: "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 carpark also heard a scream. | 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. | 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. | |
| Police wrote to the registered keepers of 700 vehicles that passed on the Garstang Road | |
| 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. | |
| He said: "My initial thoughts were that the device lost power on February 4th." | |
| Analysis of her iPhone and Fitbit watch data suggests she "very possibly" entered the water at 09.22 on 27 January, he added. | |
| 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 |