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Nicola Bulley died by drowning, inquest hears Nicola Bulley died by drowning, inquest hears
(about 4 hours later)
Nicola Bulley was last seen during a riverside walk on 27 JanuaryNicola 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. Two witnesses said they heard a scream where the 45-year-old was last seen in St Michael's on Wyre on 27 January.
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. Her body was found in the River Wyre, about a mile away from where she went missing, more than three weeks later.
The inquest also heard from various passers-by who saw Ms Bulley, with one saying she looked "absolutely idyllic". Experts told the hearing that entering cold water can cause a person to gasp and inhale water and drown in seconds.
Another described her as "not happy" but "not sad". Preston Coroner's Court also heard from various passers-by who saw Ms Bulley in the Lancashire village on the morning she disappeared.
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 said she looked "absolutely idyllic", while another described her as "not happy" but "not sad".
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 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 seenNicola 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 said paracetamol and propranolol, a prescription beta-blocker, were found, but in very small amounts and nothing that could be considered an "overdose".
She noted Ms Bulley's body had clearly been in the river for some time. Noting Ms Bulley's body had clearly been in the river for some time, she said she had concluded "the cause of death as drowning".
Dr Armour said: "I conclude the cause of death as drowning. The lungs themselves showed classical features we see in drownings. 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".
"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. 'Fairly rapid incapacitation'
Lancashire Police came under fire after revealing Ms Bulley's struggles with alcohol and perimenopause. Ms Bulley 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
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. Her disappearance led to intense public interest, criticism of police and media, and a social media frenzy of conspiracy theories.
In a video shown to the court, PC Matthew Thackray said: "There is a large vertical slope from the bench and into the water. Lancashire Police came under fire after revealing Ms Bulley's struggles with alcohol and perimenopause.
"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."
He estimated she would have floated at a "metre a second" downstream.
Nicola Bulley family 'agony' after a body is foundNicola 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 villageWhy 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". 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.
"There would be a particularly powerful cold-shock response," he said. He said there was a "steady flow downstream" on the day and the river was 4C, "so almost freezing".
He added there would have been a "fairly rapid incapacitation". "If she fell in, the muscles would probably seize, making it difficult to swim properly," he said.
A mother who bumped into Ms Bulley on the morning of her disappearance said she felt there was "nothing of concern". He estimated she would have floated at a "metre a second" downstream.
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. 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".
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." He said there "would be a particularly powerful cold-shock response", which would have led to a "fairly rapid incapacitation".
The inquest has heard from various passers-by who saw Ms Bulley before she disappeared 'Inhale scream'
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 mother who bumped into Ms Bulley on the morning of her disappearance told the court she felt there was "nothing of concern".
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. 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.
Claire Chesham described seeing Ms Bulley twice during the route she took. "She was not happy, but who is on a Friday-morning school run?" she said.
The women had a brief exchange with their dogs, something they would do on a regular basis, she said. "She wasn't sad, just how I normally knew her."
Ms Chesham described her view of Ms Bulley as "absolutely idyllic" and Willow was on a long lead and playing. 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 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 Ms Bulley was "absolutely idyllic" and she had not noticed "anything unusual" about either the location or Ms Bulley.
Penny Fletcher described the moment she discovered Ms Bulley's phone and dog. The court also heard from Penny Fletcher, who found 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. 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 later found out it was Ms Bulley's dog and heard 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.
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.
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. 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 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 car park, 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. "It was an inhale scream, a sharp intake of breath," she said.
Police wrote to the registered keepers of 700 vehicles that passed on the Garstang Road 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. 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 said: "My initial thoughts were that the device lost power on February 4th." He added that analysis of iPhone and Fitbit watch data suggested Ms Bulley "very possibly" entered the water at 09:22 on 27 January.
Analysis of her iPhone and Fitbit watch data suggests she "very possibly" entered the water at 09.22 on 27 January, he added. The hearing continues.
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