Nicola Bulley’s death was accidental after she fell into cold water and drowned, inquest concludes

Nicola Bulley’s death after falling into the cold water of a river was accidental, a coroner has ruled.

Dr James Adeley, Senior Coroner for Lancashire, made his conclusion after hearing two days of evidence from experts, relatives and witnesses at County Hall in Preston.

Sophie Cartwright KC, the lawyer representing Ms Bulley’s family, said in final submissions to the coroner that the evidence clearly pointed to her going into the River Wyre accidentally and drowning quickly in the cold water on 27 January.

It came as her tearful partner, Paul Ansell, and sister, Louise Cunningham, told the hearing at Preston County Hall of concerns about the 45-year-old mother-of-two’s struggle with the menopause and increased alcohol intake in the month before her death.

A mental health nurse had been called to the family home on 10 January this year to speak to Ms Bulley.

But they dismissed this as a “blip”, saying she was in good spirits, making plans for the future and looking forward to life when she vanished.

Ms Bulley disappeared after dropping off her daughters, six and nine, at school, and taking her usual dog walk along the river in St Michael’s on Wyre, Lancashire, on 27 January.

Her mobile phone, still connected to a work Teams call, was found on a bench overlooking the water, and her springer spaniel dog, Willow, running loose.

Her disappearance sparked a huge police search until her body was found in the river about a mile from the bench on 19 February.

Ms Cartwright said: “What happened on the river bank shortly after 9.18am was a tragic accident.

“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.”

Ms Cartwright cited the evidence given on Monday from drowning experts, who said the shock of a person going into very cold water can result in drowning in a matter of seconds.

Earlier, Ms Bulley’s GP, Dr Rebecca Gray, said she had seen Ms Bulley over her feelings of anxiety and low mood and for HRT treatment for the menopause but there was “nothing” in her medical records to suggest she was suicidal or intending self-harm.

Ms Bulley’s family gave tearful tributes to her as they gave evidence.

Ms Cunningham described her as “my big sister”, and said after raising her daughters was enjoying restarting her career as a mortgage adviser while juggling her work and home life as a busy mother.

She added that her sister “had a blip” over the last Christmas period when her drinking increased but this stopped in January and was soon “back to the normal Nikki”.

And she said Ms Bulley treated her dog Willow as a “third child” and “no way” would have intentionally left her unattended.

Mr Ansell, Ms Bulley’s partner of 12 years, said: “The blip over the Christmas period happened but in January she was back to herself, looking forward to the future and everything was on the up.

“She had a good day the day before (she went missing), came home full of beans, excited with work, with the meetings she had and plans for the year.”

Dr James Adeley, Senior Coroner for Lancashire, asked Mr Ansell if Ms Bulley had any suicidal thoughts.

Mr Ansell replied: “There were a couple of throwaway comments during the blip period but nothing that gave me any concern.”

Breaking down in tears, he added: “She was an incredible mum.”

Ernest Bulley, her father, added: “As a child she was lovely, a little ballerina, she always danced around in her tutu. She was great. She was a great daughter, sister and mother, we couldn’t ask for any more from her.”