Nicola Bulley’s partner texted her to ask ‘are you lost?’ on the morning of her disappearance.

Paul Ansell – speaking at an inquest into the mum-of-two’s death – said he believes she went to put a harness on her dog shortly before falling into the River Wyre.

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Ms Bulley’s mobile phone was still connected to a work Teams call when it was found on a bench overlooking the water.

Mr Ansell told the inquest: ‘She was still listening to that meeting, so I think she must have maybe put the phone on the bench and gone to put the harness back on Willow.’

On the day, he also sent her a text message saying: ‘Have you got lost?’ when she did not return.

Mr Ansell added it had been a ‘normal morning’ for the family and, during questioning, burst into tears and had to leave the room.

‘She was an incredible mum’, he said.

Ms Bulley drowned after entering cold water in St Michael’s, Lancashire, on January 27.

The mum-of-two was sent to A&E on January 11 due to an injury to her head, a GP told the inquest.

Dr Rebecca Gray, told the hearing at County Hall, Preston, Ms Bulley attended a walk-in centre after a fall, complaining of increased drowsiness and vomiting.

She was sent to A&E where a CT scan came back normal, the inquest heard.

Ms Bulley also did not appear depressed despite concerns over her increased drinking, a mental health clinician revealed.

Theresa Lewis Leevy told the inquest she attended Ms Bulley’s house on January 10 along with a police officer and paramedic following concerns about her welfare.

Ms Bulley appeared intoxicated on her bed and spoke of having lost weight.

However, when asked if she appeared depressed, Ms Leevy said: ‘No, no, not that I could ascertain at the time.’

Dr James Adeley, senior coroner for Lancashire, later asked Mr Ansell if Ms Bulley had any suicidal thoughts.

Mr Ansell replied: ‘There were a couple of throwaway comments during the blip period but nothing that gave me any concern.’

Ms Bulley’s sister, Louise, also spoke today and discussed the sleeping problems her sibling had faced.

She cried as she spoke, adding: ‘Nikki was my big sister…very much a planner.

‘She started her career again, a busy mum, as most people are, juggling a career and family life.

‘She always had things under her control.’

There would have been a ‘fairly rapid incapacitation’ after Ms Bulley went into the River Wyre, which could have been as cold as 3C, Monday’s proceedings had previously heard.

Drowning experts told the hearing entering into cold water can cause a victim to gasp and inhale water and drown within seconds.

It may have been just seconds before Ms Bulley began to lose consciousness in the river, the hearing was told.

Nicola’s final text, to a friend called Lucy, was also discussed.

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