Nicola Bulley died as result of drowning and was alive when she went in water, inquest finds

The Nicola Bulley inquest heard the mum-of-two died as a result of drowning, she was alive when she entered the water, and that there was no evidence of third party harm.

The inquest, which began yesterday morning, Monday June 26th, saw family, friends, experts and witnesses take their seats at Preston Coroner’s Court for the hearing. 

The mortgage advisor’s body was found on February 19th, about a mile down the River Wyre from where she fell into the water, at St Michael’s on Wyre.

Two women said they’d heard a scream on the morning of January 27th, the day Ms Bulley was last seen walking her dog Willow by the river.

Experts heard how the shock of the cold water could cause a person to gasp and just two breaths was enough to prove fatal, causing them to drown within 10 seconds.

Pathologist Dr Alison Armour, who carried out the post mortem on Ms Bulley’s body just two days after it was discovered, was asked if there was evidence of any third party involvement. 

Coroner Dr James Adeley asked her if Ms Bulley showed evidence of being ‘assaulted or harmed’ prior to her death, to which Dr Armour replied: “No.”

Dr Adeley also asked the Home Office pathologist if Ms Bulley had been drinking before she died.

Dr Adeley asked her: “At the time of her death she had no alcohol in her bloodstream?”

Dr Armour replied: “That’s my opinion.”

The pathologist also said paracetamol and a beta-blocker called propranolol were detected in small amounts, not enough to be considered an overdose.

Dr Armour also said Ms Bulley’s lungs and stomach show classic signs of drowning and it was her opinion she ‘was alive when she entered the water’.

In a video shown to the hearing, PC Matthew Thackery described a ‘large vertical slope’ near the bench where Ms Bulley is believed to have fallen into the river.

He said the water was about 4C and ‘if she fell in, the muscles would probably seize making it difficult to swim properly’. He also described a ‘steady flow downstream’, which could move at around a metre a second.

Ms Bulley’s parents, Ernest and Dot, her partner Paul Ansell and sister Louise Cunningham, attended the hearing.

The inquest heard there was no ‘trauma’ to Ms Bulley’s neck and an internal examination found ‘classic signs’ of asphyxia.

Dr Adeley told the family: “I am sorry that you are attending court under these circumstances. You have my deepest condolences and I would be grateful if you would pass that onto the children, who are not in court for obvious reasons.” 

A huge search operation was initiated by Lancashire police immediately after Ms Bulley’s disappearance, on January 27th, as the 45-year-old was considered ‘high risk’ after her partner Paul Ansell explained to officers she’d been struggling with the peri-menopause.

The case gained wide public interest and attracted many speculators online and visitors to the scene where Ms Bulley had gone missing. There was much criticism aimed towards Lancashire Police’s handling of the case as well as the media for encouraging speculation.

The inquest will resume today, Tuesday June 27th, where Ms Bulley’s partner Mr Ansell and sister Ms Cunningham are set to give evidence.