Nicola Bulley drowned after accidentally falling into river, inquest concludes

  • Report by Granada Reports Correspondent Rob Smith

Nicola Bulley drowned after falling into cold water, the inquest into her death has concluded.

Senior coroner for Lancashire, Dr James Adeley, ruled her death as "accidental" during the inquest at County Hall, Preston, saying she suffered "cold water shock" and that there was "no evidence" to suggest suicide.

Following the verdict, a lawyer representing the Bulley family, Terry Wilcox, urged the public to "look at the facts, the evidence that has been heard during the inquest and the conclusion reached by the coroner and to ignore any amateur views and opinions and be mindful of the impact words bring".

He added: "The help and support we've received these past few months has meant more than words can say."

Nicola Bulley's phone was left on the bench next to the river on Friday 27 January. Credit: PA
'Nothing' to suggest Nicola Bulley was suicidal, GP tells inquest

Meanwhile, a senior detective from Lancashire Police said she hoped the coroner’s conclusion would put an end to "ill-informed speculation and conspiracy theories" surrounding Nikki's death.

Nikki, as she's known by her family, vanished after dropping her two daughters at school before taking her usual dog walk along the River Wyre in St Michael's on Wyre in January.

Her phone, which was still connected to a work Teams call, was found on a bench overlooking the water.

Her body was found in the river around a mile downstream around three weeks later, on 19 February.

The family of Nicola Bulley say they still receive negative and upsetting messages surrounding her death.

Giving his verdict, Dr Adeley said: "The water temperature of 3.6 degrees would have elicited a powerful response in Nikki" - in relation to the rapid cooling of skin.

He said that Nikki fell into the River Wyre and died "almost immediately".

Two world leading experts in cold water shock, Dr Paddy Morgan and Professor Mike Tipton, had told the coroner: "If Nikki's head was underwater when she first gasped, she could have inhaled two litres of water, which could have been a fatal dose."

Dr Adeley said: "Even if Nikki's first breath was above water, she would have lost consciousness within a maximum of 48 seconds.

"However, both experts agreed that this was highly optimistic and a more realistic figure was 30 seconds, with the last ten seconds being increasingly impaired consciousness."

The coroner added there was no CCTV evidence or dash cam that indicated third party involvement.

"All of the witnesses who were in the area at the time did not note anyone suspicious or acting unusual in the area of the field", he said.

Nikki with her partner, Paul Ansell, and her children outside home on the morning of her disappearance. Credit: pA
Inquest told a scream was heard near to where Nicola Bulley went missing
Nicola Bulley inquest: Two breaths of water a 'lethal dose'

Dr Adeley addressed the screams that were heard by two witnesses.

"It was not of a nature that caused either concern and was located in an area some distance from where Nikki had entered the water.

"Also, for the reasons that I have explained, by the time the scream was heard, Nikki was probably already dead.

"I do not doubt that these ladies heard a scream and were quite right to report it to the Police, but it was not relevant to Nikki's death," he said.

Nikki's watch recorded a sudden rise in heart rate consistent with cold water shock, the court heard.

There is no evidence why Nikki entered the water, the coroner said.

Dr Adeley said: "There is an absence of any evidence that Nikki was contemplating suicide on 27 January.

"Her behaviour in the week before was normal...and with her parent's visit the night before...and in the morning with her partner Paul Ansell."

Dr Adeley said: "The circumstances found after her death would be unusual [for suicide]", such as leaving her car keys in her pocket with the car in the school playground where her children would see it.

Dr Adeley said this would be "cruel".

Nikki would have to have knowledge of how quick cold water shock can work, the coroner said.

Yellow ribbons and messages of hope were tied to a bridge during the three week period when Lancashire Police were searching for Nikki. Credit: PA

He added, "otherwise she may be spotted and saved, that she chose to do so at the main intersection of paths where she could be interrupted at any point."

Dr Adeley added that the idea of leaving her dog Willow alone on the river bank, described as a her "third child" would another reason he could discount a conclusion of suicide.

Speaking outside Preston’s County Hall, where the inquest took place, Detective Chief Superintendent Pauline Stables said: "I want to start by saying that first and foremost my thoughts today are with Nikki’s family and loved ones.

"They have been through the most unimaginable ordeal over the last six months and I can only hope that this inquest will help in some small way by answering some of the questions they had about what happened to Nikki on 27 January, and will allow them to start the process of rebuilding their lives as best as they can.

"I would like to thank Dr Adeley for his careful consideration of the evidence presented to this inquest as well as legal counsel, and all of the witnesses for their participation.

"I hope that His Majesty’s Coroner’s clear and definitive findings will put an end to ill-informed speculation and conspiracy theories which have been so damaging to Nikki’s family and the community of St Michael’s.

"I would like to finish by bringing this back to Nikki. She was clearly a much-loved mum, partner, daughter, sister and friend.

"I would once again express my deepest sympathy to all her loved ones and I would ask that their privacy is respected at this time to allow them the time and space to rebuild and to heal."

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