Nicola Bulley’s partner has revealed what he thinks happened to the mother-of-two in the last moments leading up to her tragic death in St Michael’s on Wyre, Lancashire, on January 27. An emotional Paul Ansell, was giving evidence on day two of the hearing where experts said her cause of death was as the result of drowning.

Ms Bulley was walking her family’s dog, Willow, before falling into the water. The mum’s mobile phone was still connected to a work Teams call when it was found on a bench near the scene.

The harness that was removed from Willow and found by the bench has been a subject of speculation and the question was asked as to why it was placed on the grass and the phone was left on the bench.

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Giving evidence, an emotional Mr Ansell said: “We would always take the harness off before going through the gate. Because she’s a springer she’s very erratic and into the bushes so anything that is on her that could get caught we used to take it off.”

He added: “When she got back to the bench she was listening to a conference call. She must have put the phone on the bench and then gone to put the harness back on Willow.”

Mr Ansall, who works from home as an engineer for a US company, explained he had been working up until 1am the night before Nicola disappeared.

He admitted it was just a normal morning, before she went missing, adding “She would always do two looks of that field before heading back to the bench and picking the car up from school.”

The inquest also heard today how Ms Bulley had visited a GP over low mood and anxiety. The 45-year-old’s family were concerned about her “increased alcohol use” and that she had said she “had not wanted to be here”. Dr James Adeley, senior coroner for Lancashire, asked Paul Ansell if Ms Bulley had any suicidal thoughts.

Mr Ansall admitted there were a couple of “throwaway comments” but nothing to give him any signs of concern.

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Paul also in his statement: “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.”

Nicola’s parents, Ernest and Dot, also gave evidence about the last time they saw their daughter. The night before she went missing Mr and Mrs Bulley had been watching the girls at Nicola’s home while she was in a Zoom meeting.

Mr Bulley said: “Before we went home we went to the front door and gave them all a kiss and a cuddle. We gave her a hug, as we always do with our children and with our grandchildren.”

Nicola’s father took several pauses during his time giving evidence and had to compose himself because of the emotional strain.

Ms Bulley vanished while walking her dog by the river after dropping off her daughters, aged six and nine, at school earlier this year.

Her dog was found shortly afterwards, and her mobile phone was discovered on a bench overlooking the water – still connected to a work conference call.

Her disappearance led to intense public interest and a social media frenzy of conspiracy theories.

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