Lancashire Police has confirmed the body found in the River Wyre is that of missing mum Nicola Bulley.
The force received a tip-off yesterday from walkers over the presence of an unidentified body in the River Wyre, which was retrieved by scuba divers.
Police had previously said they needed more time to identify the body and have now identified it as the missing mum of two.
Assistant Chief Constable Peter Lawson confirmed the body that was found is that of Nicola Bulley, with a statement read out on behalf of the family of Nicola by police.
(Image: Nikki Bulley – Mortgage Adviser/Facebook)
A statement from the family, read out by police on their behalf, noted their “worst fears” had been confirmed following the identification of the body retrieved from the River Wyre yesterday.
It read: “We will never be able to comprehend what Nicky had gone through in her last moments and that will never leave us.
“We will never forget Nicky, how could we? She was the centre of our world. She was the one who made our lives so special, and nothing will cast a shadow over that.
“Our girls will get the support they need from the people who love them the most”.
(Image: Lancashire Constabulary / SWNS.C)
Assistant Chief Constable Lawson noted that the case had been “complex and highly emotional”, adding that there had been a clear and “huge impact” on Ms Bulley’s family and the local community.
His statement added: “Today’s development is not the outcome any of us would have wanted, but we hope that it can at least start to provide some answers for Nicola’s loved ones, who remain foremost in our thoughts.”
The 45-year-old was last seen on Friday, January 27 while walking the family dog Willow near the River Wyre in St Michael’s on Wyre.
Following an intensive three-week search, police can confirm that the body retrieved yesterday just a mile away from the initial search site is Nicola Bulley.
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