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Nicola Bulley’s partner says it is as though ‘she vanished into thin air’ following 45-year-old’s disappearance

February 4, 2023
Nicola Bulley's partner says it is as though 'she vanished into thin air' following 45-year-old's disappearance

The partner of missing dog walker Nicola Bulley has said it is as though “she has vanished into thin air”.

Speaking near the scene where the mother-of-two was last seen, Paul Ansell said he will “never lose hope”, one week after she disappeared.

He also said he kept playing “every scenario” in his head “around and around” and that his focus was on supporting their two daughters.

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Signs displayed for missing Nicola Bulley

The search is continuing for the 45-year-old, whose phone was found on a bench still connected to a work call and with her springer spaniel dog running loose.

She was last seen on 27 January at about 9.10am on a path by the River Wyre in the Lancashire village of St Michael’s on Wyre.

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Police believe Nicola Bulley fell into the River Wyre

Ms Bulley, 45, a mortgage adviser, had just dropped her two young daughters, aged six and nine, at school.

Mr Ansell said: “I don’t know how I am coping. I don’t want to think about that. I am just focused on the girls.”

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Nicola’s girls ‘are really missing her’

The 44-year-old engineer added: “Every single scenario comes to a brick wall. Every single one of them.

“All we are doing is sitting there going round and round and round through each scenario.

He went on: “We’re never, ever going to lose hope, of course we’re not, but it is as though she has vanished into thin air.

“It’s just insane.”

Timeline of Nicola’s disappearance

Lancashire Constabulary has now confirmed Nicola’s movements in the run-up to her disappearance on Friday 27 January.

8.43am – Ms Bulley walked along the path by the River Wyre, having dropped her children off at school.

8:47am – A dog-walker – somebody who knows Ms Bulley – saw her walking around the lower field with her dog. Their two dogs interacted briefly before the witness left the field via the river path.

8.53am – Ms Bulley sent an email to her boss.

9.01am – Ms Bulley logged into a work conference call on Microsoft Teams.

9.10am – A witness – someone who knows Ms Bulley – saw her on the upper field walking her dog, Willow. The dog was not in its harness and off its lead. This is the last confirmed sighting of Ms Bulley.

9.20am – Police believe Nicola’s phone was left on a bench by the river.

9.30am – The conference call ended but Ms Bulley stayed logged on.

9.33am – Ms Bulley’s mobile phone was found on the bench by another dog walker. Her dog was found running between the bench and a gate to the field. The dog’s harness was found on the grass between the bench and the river’s edge. This witness then made inquiries as to who owned the phone and spoke with people who recognised the dog as Ms Bulley’s.

10.50am – Ms Bulley’s family and the school her children attend were alerted about the situation. Lancashire Constabulary said they believe Ms Bulley fell into the river and their investigation is focusing on the 10-minute window between 9.10am and 9.20am where she is unaccounted for.

Mr Ansell also thanked the local community for their “amazing” support and said it had given the family “a great amount of comfort”.

Members of the local community on Friday stood by the side of the road holding signs bearing Ms Bulley’s photo, urging people to contact police with information.

On Thursday Ms Bulley’s heartbroken sister Louise Cunningham told Sky News: “It feels like I’m just stuck in a nightmare”.

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Nicola’s family ‘stuck in nightmare’

In the interview, her family made an emotional appeal to anyone who may have seen her or knows where she is to come forward and speak to police.

Lancashire Police, who have launched a major search operation, said that despite “unanswered questions”, people should not “speculate or spread false rumours” about the disappearance.

The force said they do not believe any crime has been committed and are treating the incident as a missing person inquiry.