Nicola Bulley’s tragic true cause of death was eventually discovered, some months after she vanished from sight.

A 45-year-old mother of two mysteriously disappeared in St. Michael’s on Wyre, sparking a massive search effort.

Her disappearance quickly captured the attention of the entire nation of the UK and worldwide when news broke that her phone had been discovered on a bench near the river, still connected to a work call.

Unfortunately, her lifeless body was discovered in the river on February 19th, a devastating three weeks after she had disappeared.

Willow, her beloved springer spaniel dog, was discovered near the bench by the calm water.

The case sparked a great deal of curiosity among the public, resulting in a social media frenzy as amateur detectives flocked to the village in an attempt to unravel the mystery.

Some of the individuals who are still in the village have been labeled as «ghouls» by the locals due to their bothersome presence.

The shocking find had to be connected to the mother of two through her dental records.

In June of that year, there was a comprehensive two-day inquest into Nicola’s death at Preston’s County Hall. Her partner Paul Ansell, her sister Louise Cunningham, and her parents Ernest and Dot Bulley were all present.

According to Dr. Alison Armour, a pathologist from the Home Office, Nicola’s cause of death was determined to be drowning.

According to the expert’s analysis, it is believed that Nicola was still alive when she entered the water. Additionally, there were no indications of any physical altercation prior to her death, nor any evidence suggesting the involvement of a third party.

According to Dr. Armour, the internal examination revealed clear indications of asphyxia, a condition where the body is deprived of sufficient oxygen. Surprisingly, there were no indications of any injury to Nicola’s neck.

During the court proceedings, it was revealed that her throat contained traces of dirt and debris, and there was water present in and around her lungs, indicating the characteristic signs of drowning.

Additionally, she had multiple bruises, including one on her right arm, and her body contained «therapeutic levels» of a beta blocker.

Professor Mike Tipton, a renowned authority on diving, also shared his insights during the inquest. According to him, Nicola would have lost consciousness rapidly.

In his account, he mentioned that her small body and the frigid water would have caused her to perish within a matter of seconds.

According to Dr. Patrick Morgan, a renowned authority on cold water, falling into cold water can cause a significant increase in heart rate and blood pressure.

According to the court proceedings, it was revealed that the water temperature was a chilling 39 degrees Fahrenheit at the time when Nicola disappeared. That’s so cold that it could give someone cold water shock and make their muscles freeze up.

PC Matthew Thackray from the North West Police Underwater Search & Marine Unit found that two to three minutes felt like an eternity in the freezing water, as he desperately tried to reach a spot where Nicola could safely exit the water.

Given the consistent current on that particular day, the officer speculated that she would have been carried downstream at a rate of about 3.3 feet per second.

Following an incredibly intricate and deeply moving search, the mother’s body was discovered by two people walking their dogs, just a short distance away from where she was last spotted.