Nicola Bulley's true cause of death was revealed months after his mother's disappearance sparked a mass hunt
THE true cause of Nicola Bulley's tragic death was finally revealed, months after the mother went missing.
A huge hunt was launched after the 45 year old mother of two disappeared in St Michael's on Wyre, Lancashireon January 27, 2023.
6
6
6
Her disappearance caught the nation's attention after it was revealed cellphone was found on a bench near the river still connected to a work call.
Tragically, her body was found in the river on February 19, three weeks later disappeared.
Her pet springer spaniel willow which was discovered near the bank by the river.
Interest in the case also helped create a social media frenzy as amateur detectives burst into the village to try to solve the mystery.
Read more about Nicola Bulley
Some so-called “sleuths” are still hangs around the villagemuch to the chagrin of locals who have labeled them “ghosts”.
The mother of two had to be identified through her dental records after the sad discovery was made.
RESEARCH
A full, two-day investigation into Nicholas dead was opened in June of the same year at Preston's County Hall in the presence of a partner Paul Anselsister Louise Cunningham and parents Ernest and Dot Bulley.
Home office pathologist Dr Alison Armour, who carried out an autopsy on Nicola, gave her cause of death as drowning.
The expert said she believed Nicholas was alive when she entered the water and confirmed that there was no sign that she had been attacked before her death and that there was no evidence of third party involvement.
'CLASSICAL SIGNS' OF CHOKING
Dr. Armor said an internal examination found “classic signs” of asphyxia, which happens when the body runs out of oxygen, but there was no sign of trauma to Nicola's neck.
The court It was also said that “flecks and bits of dirt” were found in Nicola's throat and that there was water in and around her lungs, which are “typical features” seen in drowning.
Nicola also had several bruises on her body – including on her right arm – and 'therapeutic levels' of a beta blocker in her system.
The inquest also heard from diving expert Professor Mike Tipton, who said Nicola would have lost consciousness almost immediately.
He also suggested that she would have drowned in “one or two breaths” in less than ten seconds due to her size and the temperature of the water.
COLD WATER SHOCK
While cold water expert Dr Patrick Morgan explained how someone who falls into cold water will have an 'excessively high' heart rate as their blood pressure rises.
The court was told the water was only 4 degrees Celsius when Nicola disappeared, which is cold enough to lead to cold water shock and cause a person's muscles to seize.
Timeline of Nicola's disappearance
January 27:
8.26am – Nicola leaves her home address with her children
8:40 am – The mother drops the children off at school and has a brief conversation with another parent.
8.43am – Nicola walked along the path along the River Wyre towards the gate/bench to the lower field after dropping her children off at school
8:47am (approximately) – A dog walker – someone who knows Nicola – saw her walking her dog through the lower field. Their two dogs had a brief interaction before the witness left the field via the river path
8:53 am – She sent an email to her boss
8.59am – Nicola sent a message to a friend
9:01am – She logged into a Teams call
9.10am (approximately) – A witness – someone who knows Nicola – saw her walking her dog Willow in the top field. Today we are working to determine exactly what time this was.
9.20- Her phone was near the couch again
9:30am – The Teams call ended, but Nicola stayed logged in
9:33am (approx) – Nicola's cell phone and Willow were found on a bench by the river by another dog walker.
It would have taken two to three minutes to reach a point where Nicola could climb out of the river, which North West PC Matthew Thackray said. Police Underwater Search & Marine Unit said it was “an awful long time in very cold water”.
The officer estimated that she would have drifted downstream at a meter per second, as there was a “steady current” that day.
The mother's body was found by two dog walkers less than a mile from where she was last seen, despite a “hugely complex and highly emotional” search.
6
6
6