Nicola Bulley died accidentally after falling into cold water, the coroner at her inquest has concluded.
Ms Bulley, 45, vanished after dropping off her daughters, six and nine, at school, and taking her usual dog walk along the River Wyre in St Michael’s, Lancashire, on 27 January.
Following her disappearance, the 45-year-old mortgage adviser from Inskip was immediately deemed a “high risk” missing person and her disappearance sparked an intensive search operation before her body was eventually found more than three weeks later in the Wyre.
Dr James Adeley, senior coroner for Lancashire, recorded her death as accidental as she fell into the river and suffered “cold water shock”, ruling out suicide.
In a statement read outside court after the inquest, Ms Bulley’s family said: “Sadly, we feel the need to again raise and address the issue of social media.
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Nicola Bulley’s family asks for time to heal
“It’s upsetting that we’ve continued to receive negative targeted messages and still witness wildly inaccurate speculation being shared over numerous platforms.
“We encourage people to look at the facts, the evidence which has been heard during the inquest, and the conclusion reached by the Coroner, to ignore any amateur views and opinions, and be mindful of the impact words bring.”
Nicola was ‘looking forward to the future’
Earlier, her partner Paul Ansell said that despite a “blip” in her mental health she was “back to herself” and had plans for the year ahead.
Her family’s lawyer told the hearing at County Hall, Preston, they believed her death was “a tragic accident”.
Ms Bulley’s mobile phone was still connected to a work Teams call when it was found on a bench overlooking the river on the day she went missing.
Mr Ansell said: “She was still listening to that meeting, so I think she must have maybe put the phone on the bench and gone to put the harness back on Willow.”
He said she had been “looking forward to the future” before she disappeared, despite the “blip” the previous month.
“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,” said Mr Ansell, who at one point during his evidence broke down in tears and had to leave the room.
He added: “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.”
On the day she disappeared, he sent her a text message saying: “Have you got lost?”
Asked if she had any suicidal thoughts, Mr Ansell said she had made “a couple of throwaway comments” the month before her death, “but nothing that gave me any concern”.
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Inquest shown dive video
Her former GP told the inquest there was “nothing” in Ms Bulley’s medical records to suggest she was suicidal.
Dr Rebecca Gray said Ms Bulley had spoken to her about having a “low mood and anxiety” since 2018, and had later told her she was suffering from headaches, fatigue and lack of sleep.
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Police say thoughts are with Bulley family
But there was “nothing on the notes or records from 2012 where there’s been any mention of her feeling suicidal or of self-harm”, Dr Gray added.
Ms Bulley was sent to A&E on 11 January due to an injury to her head, Dr Gray said.
The mother-of-two attended a walk-in centre after a fall, complaining of increased drowsiness and vomiting, and was sent to A&E where a CT scan came back normal, the inquest heard.
Image: Police officers during the search
A mental health clinician attended Ms Bulley’s house on 10 January along with a police officer and paramedic following concerns about her welfare.
But Theresa Lewis Leevy told the inquest Ms Bulley did not appear depressed despite concerns over her increased drinking.
Ms Bulley appeared intoxicated on her bed and spoke of having lost weight.
However, when asked if she appeared depressed, Ms Leevy said: “No, no, not that I could ascertain at the time.”
Ms Bulley’s sister cried as she spoke during the inquest.
“Nikki was my big sister… very much a planner,” Louise Cunningham said.
“She started her career again, a busy mum, as most people are, juggling a career and family life. She always had things under her control.”
Image: A police diver searches the river
Ms Cunningham also commented on the “blip” in her sister’s mental state.
She said: “She had a blip over Christmas (2022) but she was back on the HRT medication in January and back to work and back to the normal Nikki.”
Ms Cunningham said her sister was drinking more heavily over that period.
But she added: “She’s never confided in me about any suicidal thoughts.”
Ms Cunningham said she was planning a spa day shortly before Ms Bulley’s death.
She cried as she said: “I literally confirmed it was booked but she didn’t pick up the message.”
Image: Ribbons left on a bench near where Ms Bulley was last seen
Expert Professor Michael Tipton said the temperature of the river was around 3-5C and it would have taken “one or two breaths” of water to kill Ms Bulley.
Asked by Dr James Adeley, senior coroner for Lancashire, if there was any evidence of third-party involvement in Ms Bulley’s death, Home Office pathologist Dr Alison Armour replied: “No, there was not.”
Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK.
But what about his style ‘prince’? Some want that ditched too.
It’s a complicated but not impossible process. Andrew could, of course, just stop using it voluntarily.
Some want him to give up his home, too. For a non-working royal, the stately Royal Lodge, with its plum position on the Windsor Estate, is an uncomfortable optic.
With the reputation of the monarchy at risk, William does not want to appear weak. He’s putting loyalty to “the firm” firmly above his familial relationships.
Prince Andrew has always strongly denied the allegations, and restated on Friday: “I vigorously deny the accusations against me”. Sky News has approached him for comment on the fresh allegations set out in the Mail on Sunday.
But with Virginia Giuffre’s tragic death and posthumous memoir due out on Tuesday, Buckingham Palace will be braced for more scandal.
When Andrew gave up his titles, there was certainly a sense of relief.
There is now a sense of dread over what else could emerge.
Sky News’ royal commentator has explained why Prince Andrew has not given up being called a prince – while another expert has said “the decent thing” for him to do would be “go into exile” overseas.
Andrew announced on Friday that he would stop using his Duke of York title and relinquish all other honours, including his role as a Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.
However, he will continue to be known as a prince.
Royal commentator Alastair Bruce said that while Andrew’s other honours and titles were conferred to him later in life, he became a prince when he was born to Elizabeth II while she was queen.
He told presenter Kamali Melbourne: “I think […] that style was quite special to the late Queen,” he said. “And perhaps the King, for the moment, thinks that can be left alone.
“It’s a matter really for the King, for the royal household, perhaps with the guidance and advice of government, which I’m sure they are taking.”
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2:49
Who pushed Andrew to drop his titles?
Since Andrew’s announcement, there has been speculation over whether any further measures will be taken – and one author has now called for him to “go into exile”.
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Andrew Lownie, author of The Rise And Fall Of The House Of York, said: “The only way the story will go away is if he leaves Royal Lodge, goes into exile abroad with his ex-wife, and is basically stripped of all his honours, including Prince Andrew.”
Royal Lodge is the Windsor mansion Andrew lives in with his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, who has also lost her Duchess of York title.
Image: Andrew and his former wife continue to live on the Windsor estate. Pic: Reuters
Mr Lownie continued: “He makes out he’s an honourable man and he’s putting country and family first. Well, if he is, then the optics look terrible for the monarchy. A non-working royal in a 30-room Crown Estate property with a peppercorn rent.
“He should do the decent thing and go. And frankly, he should go into exile.”
Mr Lownie added if the Royal Family “genuinely want to cut links, they have to put pressure on him to voluntarily get out”.
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1:11
Windsor’s take on Prince Andrew
Andrew’s decision to stop using his titles was announced amid renewed scrutiny of his relationship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, and fresh stories linked to the late Virginia Giuffre.
Ms Giuffre, who was trafficked by Epstein, alleged she was sexually assaulted by Andrew on three occasions – which he has always vigorously denied.
Bereaved families whose loved ones took their own lives after buying the same poison online have written to the prime minister demanding urgent action.
Warning: This article contains references to suicide
The group claims there have been “multiple missed opportunities” to shut down online forums that promote suicide and dangerous substances.
They warn that over 100 people have died after purchasing a particular poison in the last 10 years.
Among those who have written to Downing Street is Pete Aitken, whose daughter Hannah was 22 when she took her own life after buying the poison from a website.
Hannah was autistic and had ADHD. She was treated in six different mental health hospitals over a four-year period.
He said: “Autistic people seem to be most vulnerable to this kind of sort of poison and, you know, wanting to take their lives.”
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Pete Aitken speaking to Sky News
Sky News is not naming the poison, but Hannah was able to buy a kilogram of it online. Just one gram is potentially fatal.
“There’s this disparity between the concentration required for its legitimate use and that required for ending your life. And it seems quite clear you could make a distinction,” Mr Aitken said.
Analysis from the Molly Rose Foundation and the group Families and Survivors to Prevent Online Suicide Harms says at least 133 people have died because of the poison. It also says coroners have written warnings about the substance on 65 separate occasions.
The report accuses the Home Office of failing to strengthen the regulation of the poison and says not enough is being done to close dangerous suicide forums online.
Lawyers representing the group want a public inquiry into the deaths.
In a joint letter to the prime minister, the families said: “We write as families whose loved ones were let down by a state that was too slow to respond to the threat.
“This series of failings requires a statutory response, not just to understand why our loved ones died but also to prevent more lives being lost in a similar way.”
The group’s lawyer, Merry Varney, from Leigh Day, said: “The government is rightly committed to preventing deaths through suicide, yet despite repeated warnings of the risks posed by an easily accessible substance, fatal in small quantities and essentially advertised on online forums, no meaningful steps have been taken.”
Image: Hannah’s dad is one of the family members to have signed the letter
A government spokesperson said: “Suicide devastates families and we are unequivocal about the responsibilities online services have to keep people safe on their platforms.
“Under the Online Safety Act, services must take action to prevent users from accessing illegal suicide and self-harm content and ensure children are protected from harmful content that promotes it.
“If they fail to do so, they can expect to face robust enforcement, including substantial fines.”
They added that the position is “closely monitored and reportable under the Poisons Act, meaning retailers must alert authorities if they suspect it is being bought to cause harm”.
“We will continue to keep dangerous substances under review to ensure the right safeguards are in place,” they said.
Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK.