Senior Coroner Dr James Adeley has today (Tuesday 27th June) ruled that Nicola Bulley died as a result of an accident after falling into cold water. The 45-year-old from St. Michael’s On Wyre disappeared after dropping her daughters, six and nine, at school on 27th January before taking her usual dog walk along the River Wyre. Her phone, which was still on a work call, was found on a bench overlooking the river bank.
Giving evidence earlier today, Ms Bulley’s partner Paul Ansell said he believes she was trying to put a harness on their dog moments before falling into the river. Experts had told the inquest that Ms Bulley would have died ‘in seconds’ due to the shock of entering the ‘freezing’ water.
The coroner said that the cause of death was drowning, likely from cold water shock.
