Nicola Bulley died accidentally from drowning, coroner rules

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Nicola Bulley’s death was accidental and took place after she fell in a river and drowned, a coroner has concluded.

The senior coroner for Lancashire, James Adeley, on Tuesday recorded a verdict of accidental death after a two-day hearing into one of the most high profile missing person cases in living memory.

The disappearance of Bulley, a 45-year-old mortgage broker, created intense media and social media interest and a frenzy of conspiracy theories.

She went missing on 27 January after dropping off her children at their school in the small Lancashire village of St Michaels on the Wyre before going on a routine dog walk with her springer spaniel, Willow.

Her phone, still connected to a Teams work call, was discovered on a bench overlooking the River Wyre. After 24 days her body was found about a mile away in the river.

The inquest in Preston heard pathological evidence that Bulley died as a result of drowning. There was no evidence of alcohol in her bloodstream or the involvement of any third party in causing her harm.

Evidence from world-leading experts on cold water shock suggested Bulley would have died in seconds after inhaling water.

Her partner, Paul Ansell, said Bulley was in “amazing spirits” in the days leading up to her disappearance.

The family’s lawyer, Sophie Cartwright KC, said Bulley’s death was a tragic accident. She told the coroner: “There has been much rumour and suspicion and speculation around Nikki’s death but the family are very clearly of the view and submit to you that that rumour and speculation is allayed completely when looking at all the evidence.

“Nikki’s death would have occurred very shortly after she entered the water.”

More follows.