Nicola Bulley inquest: Husband Paul Ansell called NHS for help days before she went missing
Nicola Bulley’s involved household contacted emergency companies to hunt help for her elevated alcohol use simply days before she was reported missing, an inquest has heard.
Psychological well being clinician Theresa Lewis Leevy advised Preston County Corridor she had responded to a name made by Ms Bulley’s associate Paul Ansell and her sister on January 10, and attended their house handle alongside a police officer and a paramedic.
“We have been greeted by Nicola’s associate and sister and proven to the lounge the place we had a dialog about elevated alcohol use since Christmas time and a dialog about issues for Nicola’s welfare,” she mentioned.
Nicola Bulley’s associate Paul Ansell described her as an “unimaginable mom” to their two youngsters
(Nicola Bulley/Fb)
Throughout this assembly, Ms Bulley remained in her bed room carrying leggings and appeared intoxicated. Nevertheless, when requested if she had appeared depressed, Ms Leevy advised the court docket: “No, not that I may verify on the time.”
Giving proof, her sister Louise Cunningham mentioned that Ms Bulley had been “completely fuming” that an ambulance had been called, with the occasion serving as a “realisation” and main her to cease consuming alcohol.
On the time of her loss of life on January 27, the 45-year-old mortgage adviser was not inebriated, with toxicology stories exhibiting solely a therapeutic stage of paracetamol and beta-blocker propranolol in her system.
Her Normal Practitioner, Dr Rebecca Grey, knowledgeable the inquest that Ms Bulley had been prescribed propranolol in February 2019 after presenting with signs of hysteria. Since July 2021, she had additionally been battling the menopause and had been given HRT remedy.
Nevertheless, she added: “There may be nothing on the notes or information from 2012 the place there’s been any point out of her feeling suicidal or of self hurt.”
Whereas she had suffered a “blip” over Christmas 2022, her associate Mr Ansell mentioned: “The blip over the Christmas interval occurred however in January she was again to herself, wanting ahead to the longer term and the whole lot was on the up.”
Her physique was discovered a mile downstream from the bench the place her cellphone had been found
(Press Affiliation Photographs)
He described her as “an unimaginable mom”, whose main focus had been on her two daughters, aged six and 9, together with her springer spaniel Willow appearing as a “third youngster”.
A number of members of Ms Bulley’s household turned emotional through the second day of her inquest, which heard particulars of her medical historical past and her closing interactions with family members.
Mr Ansell had change into involved for his spouse’s whereabouts after she didn’t return from a canine stroll by 10am, regardless of having scheduled work calls for later that morning.
At 10.48am, he texted “Have you ever bought misplaced?” solely to be advised minutes later that Willow had been discovered working unfastened, with Ms Bulley nowhere to be discovered.
He mentioned that the couple had loved a “regular morning” before she took the youngsters to high school, and that Ms Bulley had been delighted together with her current profession progress.
A autopsy gave her explanation for loss of life as drowning within the River Wyre
(PA)
“She had a superb day the day before (she went missing), got here house stuffed with beans, excited with work, with the conferences she had and plans for the yr,” he mentioned.
The mother-of-two was final seen alive at 9.10am whereas strolling her canine alongside the River Wyre after dropping her youngsters at their main college. Yesterday, the inquest heard from a number of witnesses who noticed Ms Bulley strolling alongside the riverbank whereas on her cell phone.
Shortly after 9.30am, a passer-by found her canine and her cellphone, which was nonetheless logged onto a Microsoft Groups work name.
After being contacted at 10.54am by their youngsters’s college, Mr Ansell contacted 999 to report her disappearance, with Lancashire Constabulary launching a “high-risk” missing particular person’s investigation.
Her physique was not found till February 19, simply over a mile downstream from the bench the place her cell phone had been left.
A autopsy examination gave her explanation for loss of life as drowning, with a Residence Workplace pathologist confirming that there was no proof of third social gathering involvement.
Her two-day inquest is because of conclude on Tuesday afternoon.
