‘It was a body of a woman, there is definitely a body down there:’ Dogwalker told police searching for Nicola Bulley that dead person in river ‘is a woman’ – as photo shows awful moment they point to body
- Picture shows the awful moment a dogwalker pointed out a body to police
- A witness was overheard describing the body in the river as a ‘woman’
- Officers retrieved an unidentified body from the River Wyre in Lancashire
One of the dogwalkers who found a body in the river near where mother-of-two Nicola Bulley went missing was overheard telling police it was the body of a woman.
A picture shows the moment the body was pointed out to police officers after being found less than a mile away from the bench Nicola Bulley disappeared from.
Lancashire Constabulary said a formal identification is yet to be carried out on the body retrieved from the river Wyre but the 45-year-old mortgage adviser’s family have been informed.
The body was found around a mile from where Ms Bulley was last seen walking her dog in St Michael’s on Wyre after dropping her daughters, aged six and nine, at school on January 27.
Officers were called to reports of a body in the river close to Rawcliffe Road at around 11.35am this morning, where a walker was overheard telling them about the woman’s body.
Tis is the moment a dogwalker pointed out the discovery to officers searching for Nicola Bulley
Nicola Bulley, 45, vanished while walking her dog in St Michael’s in Wyre, Lancashire, on January 27, 2023
“It’s a body. It is down there. It was the body of a woman. There is definitely a body down there,’ a witness was heard saying.
Another witness told The Telegraph that police cars were ‘flying’ to the location and they could see a man pointing at the riverbank.
‘I could still clearly see the man pointing at the riverbank. Then more police cars raced down with the blues and twos going. They cleared the entire road.’
A police spokesman said officers were called to reports of a body in the river close to Rawcliffe Road at around 11.35am this morning.
‘An underwater search team and specialist officers have subsequently attended the scene, entered the water and have sadly recovered a body,’ a statement said.
‘No formal identification has yet been carried out, so we are unable to say whether this is Nicola Bulley at this time.
‘Procedures to identify the body are ongoing.
‘We are currently treating the death as unexplained.
‘Nicola’s family have been informed of developments and our thoughts are with them at this most difficult of times. We ask that their privacy is respected.’
A man and a woman walking their dog discovered the body and called police, the PA news agency understands.
The body was found on an unremarkable stretch of the river, just past a slight bend, a mile or so outside the village, close to where a tree had fallen on its side half in and half outside the water, with branches and undergrowth partially submerged.
Police had earlier erected a tent and cordoned off the lane while police divers were called in, but the road was reopened around three hours later once the body was recovered by officers.
A police officer walks along a road near to the scene where a body was found
Yellow ribbons and daffodils adorn the footbridge over the River Wyre in St Michael’s on Wyre this evening following the discovery of a body
The sun sets this evening over the bench near St.Michael on Wyre, Lancashire, where Nicola Bulley’s phone was found after her disappearance
The area attracted press interest and members of the public including one woman who told reporters she was a clairvoyant and had ‘picked up’ an area of the river on Saturday night.
The police diving team could be seen conducting the search while a police drone and helicopter flew above.
The investigation into Ms Bulley’s disappearance has attracted widespread speculation as well as criticism of the police response.
The force came under fire after making Ms Bulley’s struggles with alcohol and peri-menopause public three weeks after she vanished.
In a press conference on Wednesday, they revealed the mother-of-two was classed as a ‘high-risk’ missing person immediately after her partner Paul Ansell reported her disappearance, ‘based on a number of specific vulnerabilities’.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said they were assessing the information to determine whether an investigation would be necessary over the contact officers had with the missing mother-of-two on January 10. Pictured: Officers in St Michael’s on Wyre on Thursday
Lancashire Police have referred themselves to the police watchdog over contact the force had with missing mother Nicola Bulley prior to her disappearance. Pictured: Assistant Chief Constable Peter Lawson (left) and Detective Superintendent Rebecca Smith of Lancashire Police during a press conference on Wednesday
They later added in a statement that Ms Bulley, from Inskip in Lancashire, had stopped taking her HRT medication.
A public backlash and interventions from the Government and shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper followed, with Lancashire Constabulary confirming a date had been set for an internal review into the investigation.
A spokeswoman said: ‘A review of the investigation is diarised and will be conducted by our head of crime detective Chief Superintendent Pauline Stables.’
Search expert Peter Faulding was the last person to scour the area – nearly two weeks ago on February 6.
He was also facing questions last night after he had said at the conclusion of his three-day investigation: ‘If Nicola was in the river, I would have found her. She’s not there.’
Tonight he said it would be ‘totally unfair’ to say he gave the family ‘false hope’ if the body, as feared, turns out to be missing Ms Bulley.
He added: ‘A body could lodge in the reads under debris, and you wouldn’t see it on any form of sonar, either the police or our sonar.
‘If a body gets lodged in the reeds it usually gets found by a dog walker, that is normal.’
Last week, two boats with specialist police teams searched the coast off Morecambe Bay, around 20 miles from where Nicola was last seen, with police suggesting finding her ‘in the open sea becomes more of a possibility’.
A third vessel, a large orange lifeboat, was also seen patrolling the bay, with a team of rescue workers on board.
Divers spent days hunting through the River Wyre in an effort to try and find the missing mother-of-two
A £55,000 sonar was used by divers from SGI who used the kit to scan the waterways of St Michael’s on Wyre village in Lancashire
Two police boats prepare to depart from Morecambe Bay as the search for Nicola moved to the sea
A lifeboat swept the river Wyre multiple times where it meets the estuary of Morecambe Bay, in Lancashire, two weeks on from missing Nicola Bulley
After searches of the river came to nothing, diving expert Mr Faulding claimed he would start a new search on land in an attempt to find where she ‘could have been buried’.
Peter Faulding said the operation to find the missing mother needed to be expanded to woodland surrounding the River Wyre as he insisted: ‘If someone’s in the woods I will find them.’
Mr Faulding claimed it was time to ‘consider all options’ and this week vowed to look at ‘possible deposition sites’ – especially since there was a report of ‘suspicious people hanging around’ the area where she disappeared.
As Ms Bulley’s family grew more concerned after failed attempts to find her, police moved search teams to the coast with officers on horseback spotted patrolling coastal pathways on horseback in Knott End-on-Sea, Lancashire.
Ms Bulley’s distraught partner attempted to remain composed as he told the media he was trying to protect his daughters
Mounted police in Knott End-on-Sea are pictured on Monday as they took part in the search for missing Nicola Bulley
Officers on patrol close to where Ms Bulley was last seen
Search teams, accompanied by sniffer dogs, spent Friday tirelessly checking the banks of the River Wyre in Hambledon, which is about seven miles to the west of where Nicola was last seen
Police also quizzed residents and businesses, while appealing for doorbell and CCTV footage in a hope to find the crucial clue that could unlock the mystery of the missing mother.
But Lancashire Police faced backlash for ‘wasting’ the first 24 hours of the investigation by not carrying out door-to-door inquiries and jumping to the conclusion Nicola fell into the river.
Speaking to Channel 5 earlier this month, Ms Bulley’s partner Paul Ansell said he is convinced she never went in the river and called for police to re-focus on searching the nearby land, including door-to-door searches.
On Monday this week, police were seen going door-to-door at the Wyreside Farm Park caravan site, yards from where the mother of two went missing on Jan 27.
After finding a body today police spokesman said: ‘We were called today at 11.36am to reports of a body in the River Wyre, close to Rawcliffe Road.
‘An underwater search team and specialist officers have subsequently attended the scene, entered the water and have sadly recovered a body.
‘No formal identification has yet been carried out, so we are unable to say whether this is Nicola Bulley at this time.
‘Procedures to identify the body are on-going. We are currently treating the death as unexplained.
‘Nicola’s family have been informed of developments and our thoughts are with them at this most difficult of times. We ask that their privacy is respected.’
A tent has been erected and a wide cordon remains in place.
A police diving team at the River Wyre near St Michael’s on Wyre, Lancashire, on Sunday as police continue their search for missing woman Nicola Bulley, 45
Around a dozen vehicles remain at the scene where police located a body
Police scrambled a huge search after the two walkers spotted the body. Detective superintendent Smith arrived moments before police confirmed the heartbreaking discovery.
The male walker was seen ashen faced as he talked to police and pointed at an outcrop of trees and undergrowth along the bank, saying: ‘There’s definitely a body there’.
By 1pm on Sunday police drones and a helicopter hovered over the outcrop of trees and undergrowth, while police divers took to the banks of the river Wyre.
Soon afterwards, Lancashire Police confirmed that a body had been located in the river.
Home Secretary Suella Braverman described developments in the case of Nicola Bulley as ‘heart-breaking and distressing’ after a body was found in the River Wyre.
She tweeted: ‘These are heart-breaking and distressing developments. My thoughts remain with Nicola’s family at this extremely difficult time.’
A member of the public today appears to point towards a spot in the undergrowth by the river Wyre while police watch on
At least three police cars and a van rushed to the scene, with other cars soon following
Police erected a tent (left) at the scene shortly before they confirmed the discovery of a body
Before the discovery was confirmed, a witness said: ‘I drove down Rawcliffe Road for almost a mile. I noticed a man and a woman and two police officers on the embankment.
‘I pulled off at about 11.50am and I heard the man talking to police about something in the undergrowth.
‘Police cars were flying down the road with the blues and twos going. A police officer pulled up a few minutes later and got his drone out.
‘Five minutes later the police helicopter arrived. Officers then asked to me get out so I moved 200 yards down the road.
‘I could still clearly see the man pointing at the riverbank. Then more police cars raced down with the blues and twos going. They cleared the entire road.’
The man and woman were later seen sat on a wall by the scene looking ashen faced and vaping.
The 45-year-old mother-of-two was last seen on January 27 while walking her dog by the river in St Michael’s-on-Wyre after dropping her daughters – aged six and nine – at school.
A massive police presence descended on the village three weeks ago with dozens of officers, divers, search experts and high-tech equipment including drones.
Specialist searchers including Peter Faulding, who scoured the river using sonar equipment, also spent days in the area.
Mr Faulding took the unusual move of publicly stating he did not believe Ms Bulley was in the river, as it was so shallow she could simply have ‘stood up’ if she fell in.
After the news of Sunday’s discovery, Mr Faulding tweeted: ‘Our thoughts are with Nicola’s family and friends at this difficult time.’
Police officers were seen pointing towards the river from a vantage point next to a CSI van
Multiple police cars were pictured at the scene as the helicopter flew overhead
Detective Superintendent Rebecca Smith, the senior investigating officer in Ms Bulley’s case, arrives at the scene of the search
Police officers and divers were pictured at the scene on Sunday afternoon, although it is unclear what, if anything, has been found
Lancashire Police issued the update on its Facebook page and requested Ms Bulley’s family’s privacy be respected
Her partner Paul Ansell, 44, has maintained hope she is still alive despite officers saying their main working hypothesis remains that Ms Bulley is in the river.
Ms Bulley vanished after dropping off her daughters, aged six and nine, at school on January 27 in St Michael’s on Wyre, Lancashire.
She was last seen at 9.10am taking her usual route with her springer spaniel Willow, alongside the River Wyre, shortly after dropping her girls, aged nine and six, off at school.
Her phone, still connected to a work call, was found just over 20 minutes later on a bench overlooking the riverbank, with her dog running loose.
Speaking about the new search, former Scotland Yard Detective Peter Bleksley told Sky News: ‘If ever there’s a sign of information that is received by the police… then seeing lots of resources deployed in a fairly short space of time is not uncommon.’
A police helicopter is reported to have circled overhead for around 25 minutes
Diving and search specialists discuss the situation with one another from the side of the bank
Four members of the police appeared to be involved in a search of the River Wyre on Sunday
A Lancashire officer observes the ground near to the spot the two walkers pointed police to
A police helicopter was pictured over St Michael’s on Wyre for the first time in days
Nicola Bulley, 45, from Inskip, Lancashire, was last seen on the morning of Friday January 27, when she was spotted walking her dog on a footpath by the River Wyre off Garstang Road in St Michael’s on Wrye
Nicola Bulley’s sister shared a heartbreaking message on Friday, appealing for Ms Bulley to ‘come home now’
A police helicopter hovers over the River Wyre in St Michael’s on Wyre, Lancashire today as police continue their search for missing woman Nicola Bulley
Underwater search expert Peter Faulding scans the River Wyre using sonar equipment earlier this month
The last time Nicola Bulley was caught on CCTV she was accompanied by Willow on the morning of her disappearance
On February 3, Lancashire Police told the public of its main hypothesis that Ms Bulley had fallen into the River Wyre in a ’10-minute window’ between 9.10am and 9.20am on the day she disappeared.
But multiple experts and Ms Bulley’s own family said they did not believe this to be true.
This week they held a second press conference in which they referenced individual ‘vulnerabilities’ that meant she had immediately been classed as a ‘high-risk’ missing persons case.
But hours later they issued a shock statement detailing Ms Bulley’s struggles with alcohol, brought on by significant symptoms of being peri-menopausal and having stopped taking her HRT medication.
Ms Bulley’s family said in a statement on Friday that they feared her decision to stop taking her hormone replacement therapy (HRT) drugs may have played a factor in her disappearance.
‘Due to the perimenopause Nikki suffered with significant side effects such as brain fog, restless sleep and was taking HRT to help but this was giving her intense headaches which caused Nikki to stop taking the HRT thinking that may have helped her but only ended up causing this crisis,’ the statement said.
They added: ‘Nikki is such a wonderful daughter, sister, partner and mother and is missed dearly – we all need you back in our lives.
‘Nikki, we hope you are reading this and know that we love you so much and your girls want a cuddle. We all need you home.’
Today’s news came after it was revealed overnight one of the UK’s top detectives was personally advising Lancashire Police on the case.
The unnamed detective from the NCA, often referred to as Britain’s FBI, has worked on some of the UK’s most high-profile cases including killer and morgue monster David Fuller and the murder of PCSO Julia James, the organisation told MailOnline.
The police have so far failed to find Ms Bulley, 45, after she vanished without a trace while walking her springer spaniel, named Willow, more than three weeks ago.
Lancashire Police have also received the aid of a forensic psychologist and dog behavioural expert.
It comes amid fierce criticism of police for releasing personal health details about Ms Bulley this week, including from Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt and PM Rishi Sunak.
Criticism of the force has been mounting since the 45-year-old’s disappearance on January 27.
Police officers have been combing the area for more than three weeks for the missing mother
Officers spent hours trawling the river, riverbanks and fields nearby
Police search teams on the River Wyre in St Michael’s on Wyre, Lancashire on February 5
Ms Bulley’s phone was found on this bench in St Michael’s on Wyre, with Willow’s harness on the floor nearby
Specialist Group International, led by Peter Faulding, search a stretch of the River Wyre where Nicola Pulley went missing at St Michael’s on Wyre
Lancashire Police have launched a probe into their investigation, which appears to have stalled, but have raised questions by not taking up offers from other forces such as the Metropolitan Police to conduct the review instead.
This week police publicly divulged information about Nicola Bulley’s battles with alcohol brought on by the menopause – a decision critics blasted as ‘sexist’.
Former police officers have also questioned why basic actions such as closing off the area where Ms Bulley’s phone and dog were discovered for forensic examination were not completed.
The force has confirmed a date has been set for the internal review, which will be conducted by their Head of Crime, Detective Chief Superintendent Pauline Stables – but that date has not been made public.
On Friday Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley offered to conduct a review on behalf of the force, but Lancashire Police were criticised after deciding to do it themselves.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has also received a referral from the force regarding the contact officers had with Ms Bulley on January 10 – before she went missing.
Meanwhile PM Rishi Sunak, speaking about the release of personal details after Lancashire Police announced it will conduct an internal review, said he is ‘pleased police are looking at how that happened in the investigation’.