Nicola Bulley’s partner reveals why he thinks mum’s phone was left on bench as family ‘believe death was accidental’
NICOLA Bulley’s partner has revealed why he thinks her phone was left on a bench as her inquest was told the mum’s death was a “tragic accident”.
Tearful Paul Ansell explained the mum-of-two may have put her phone down to re-attach dog Willow’s harness.
Nicola is then believed to have fallen in the River Wyre – leaving both the springer spaniel and her phone, which was still connected to a work call, by the bench.
He told the inquest: “When she got back to the bench she is still listening to a conference call.
“She must have put the phone on the bench and then gone to put the harness back on Willow.”
Sophie Cartwright KC, representing Nicola’s family, said in final submissions that the evidence clearly pointed to a “tragic accident”.
The lawyer told the coroner there has been much “rumour and speculation” around Nicola’s death but said the family is of the view this is “allayed completely when looking at the evidence”.
She added: “Nikki’s death would have occurred very shortly after she entered the water.”
The closing argument came following a two-day inquest into Nicola’s death in Preston.
Paul told how Nicola was “full of beans” on the night before her disappearance.
He said she had suffered a mental health “blip” after starting hormone replacement therapy for perimenopause.
But he added: “She was getting back into her work, she was excited, it was going really well. She had worked so hard. She was happy about earning her own money and getting that independence again.”
Paul confirmed the morning Nicola vanished was “normal” as the mum dropped their children off at school before heading to the field where she would usually do a two-loop walk.
He then told how he messaged his partner at 10.30am – around an hour after Nicola is believed to have fallen in the river.
Paul wrote: “Have you got lost?”
He then received a phonecall 20 minutes later from the children’s school saying Nicola’s phone and dog Willow had been found.
When asked why the springer spaniel’s harness was off and Nicola’s phone left on the bench, Paul explained the dog restraint was usually removed when they entered the gate to the fields.
He believes Nicola would have left the phone, which was connected to a work call, on the bench while she went to put Willow’s harness back on.
The dad said also had been planning to take her daughter to a gymnastics competition the following day as he called Nicola “an incredible mum, an amazing mum”.
He then broke down and had to leave the room as he told how Nicola’s daughters were her “absolute world”.
After returning, Paul added: “She was grateful for every day, she was an amazing mum and partner and this gave her huge security.
“She focused on the important things and did the right thing by everyone.
“She was well-respected by all who knew her. Everybody loved her.”
The inquest continues.