Nicola Bulley cops say they need more time to identify body found in river during search for missing mum
POLICE have said they need more time to identify the body found in the river during their search for Nicola Bulley.
The remains were spotted yesterday morning by dog walkers who frantically phoned police – sparking a massive response.
Cops confirmed in the afternoon that a body had been found in the River Wyre, Lancashire.
But, as no formal identification had been carried out yesterday, they were unable to say whether the remains belonged to Nicola.
In a statement today, police said they needed more time to identify the body.
Lancashire Police said: “Yesterday morning, Sunday, 19 February, you may be aware of police activity around the river near to St Michaels.
“We want to provide you with an update on that activity.
“We were called today at 11:36am to reports of a body in the River Wyre, close to Rawcliffe Road.
“An underwater search team and specialist officers have subsequently attended the scene, entered the water and have sadly recovered a body.
“No formal identification has yet been carried out, so we are unable to say whether this is Nicola Bulley at this time.
“Procedures to identify the body are on-going.
“We are currently treating the death as unexplained.
“Nicola’s family have been informed of developments and our thoughts are with them at this most difficult of times. We ask that their privacy is respected.”
The mum-of-two’s family are now waiting for answers, but could be waiting days to find out if the body belongs to her.
A map and photos have revealed exactly where the body was found, less than a mile away from where the missing mum was last seen.
The 45-year-old disappeared in St Michael’s on Wyre at around 9.15am on January 27.
And the body was found at around 11am yesterday, near Rawcliffe Road.
It was said to have been on the edge of the river, in undergrowth, when first seen by members of the public.
And the horrified witness’ first words to the cops have been revealed.
The man, who appeared pale, could be seen pointing to the area along the bank.
He can then be heard saying: “It was a body. It is down there.
“It was a body of a woman. There is definitely a body down there.”
It comes as…
- The horrified witness’ first words after spotting a women’s body in the river were revealed
- Nicola’s family could be waiting days to find out if the body pulled from the river is hers
- A former cop claims we’ll never know what happened to Nicola
- The missing mum’s partner shares how he and their children are coping
- Inside the police’s search for the 45-year-old
- A former cop claims there are “two possibilities” as to why a body has only just been found
Another witness told The Mirror: “I noticed a man and a woman and two police officers on the embankment.
“I heard the man talking to police about something in the undergrowth.
“Police cars were flying down the road with the blues and twos going.
“A police officer pulled up a few minutes later and got his drone out.
“Five minutes later the helicopter arrived. Officers asked to me get out so I moved 200 yards down the road.”
Police said yesterday the death was being treated as “unexplained”.
Nicola’s partner Paul broke his silence after the body was found and said he had “no words right now, just agony”.
Other members of the mum’s family were said to be feeling “heartbroken“, and bracing for “the worst possible news“.