Nicola Bulley's terrifying final moments recreated by cop in river who shows how quickly current sweeps him along | The Sun

A COP has recreated Nicola Bulley’s terrifying final moments in the river Wyre – and has shown how easily she could have been taken by the current.

The mum-of-two was last seen in St Michael’s on Wyre, Lancashire, on January 27.

Tragically, her body was found in the river on February 19 – three weeks after she vanished.

Yesterday at an inquest into her death video filmed on PC Thackray’s bodycam showed him swimming down the river in a “fairly buoyant suit” from the bench to where Nicola’s body was found.

It comes after the inquest was told it is likely Nicola fell into the River Wyre from a "cliff-edge drop".

Once in the water, she travelled at a "metre a second" downstream in the "steady flow" of the river.

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In the clip, PC Thackray shows how strong the current of the water is.

While entering the water he says: “You can see it's fairly clear at the point of entry.

"I'm into the middle of the river now and it is pushing me down towards the weir.

“If she did fall in she would probably be floating and be pushed along.”

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The specialist cop filmed from where Nicola’s phone was discovered to where her body was found.

He explained: "If I were to sit down in that water now you can see that it's taking me along faster. It's now probably at a slow jogging pace.

“As you come around the corner you can see the weir in front of us. It's around about 300 metres from the point of entry 

“As you get towards it water is now shin deep on me but we do think its is down a little bit from the day in question.

“But if you’re floating it is still more than enough water to push you along.

“As you get to the weir you can see there's a lip but there's alot of water going over it. The water is now down from how it was on the day 

“But it can comfortably push me over and I can float over.”

A full, two-day inquest into Nicola's death opened yesterday at Preston's County Hall in front of partner Paul Ansell, sister Louise Cunningham and parents Ernest and Dot Bulley.

Home Office pathologist Dr Alison Armour, who carried out a post mortem on Nicola, gave her cause of death as drowning.

The expert said she believed Nicola was alive when she entered the water and confirmed there was no sign she had been assaulted before her death and no indication of third party involvement.

Dr Armour said the internal examination found “classic signs” of asphyxia, which happens when the body is deprived of oxygen, but there was no sign of trauma to Nicola's neck.

The court was also told "flecks and fragments of dirt" were found inside Nicola's throat and there was water in and around her lungs, which are "typical features" seen in drowning.

Nicola also had several bruises on her body – including on her right arm – and "therapeutic levels" of a beta blocker in her system.

Dr Armour confirmed Nicola had not been drinking before her death.

Two women told the hearing they both heard a scream near the riverside on the morning Nicola vanished.

Veronica Claesen said the sound was an "inhale scream" that sounded like a sharp intake of breath.

She added: "I was just about to get into the car and I heard a scream. A very short scream and my immediate thought was, ‘Somebody is having a bit of fun at the back of the graveyard’.”

A second woman, Helen O'Neill, told the hearing she was in the garden with her dogs not far from the bench where Nicola disappeared.

She said: "I heard a scream, it's not an alarming noise, it was just over in a couple of seconds. I'm quite used to hearing the children in the school out back, but it was not that noise.

"I vividly remember thinking it's unusual at this time. In my head, I had two females, walking along by the river and one jumped out on the other. I didn't think anything of it until later on.

"There were no other sounds for me to be concerned about."

Mortgage adviser Nicola vanished without a trace after dropping her two daughters, aged six and nine, off at school in St Michael’s on Wyre, Lancashire.

Tragically, her body was found in the river on February 19 – three weeks after she vanished.

Her disappearance gripped the nation after it was revealed her mobile was found on a bench by the river still connected to a work conference call.

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Nicola's pet springer spaniel Willow was also discovered – but there was no trace still of the mum of two.

The inquest continues.

Nicola Bulley: How the tragedy unfolded

JANUARY 27: Day she vanished.
8.40am: Witness Claire Che­shire described Nicola as “smiling” on the school run.
8.43am: Nicola walked along the path by the River Wyre after dropping her kids at school.
8:50am: Another dog walker saw her walking pet Willow.
8.53am: Nicola sent an email to her boss.
9.01am: She logged into a Teams work call.
9.10am: She was last seen walking Willow. Nurse Helen O’Neill, who lives near the river, said she heard a scream while in her back garden a short time after. It was also heard by a second witness, Veronica Claesen.
9.30am: Teams call ended but her phone stayed logged on. Her online-linked Fitbit fitness watch stopped recording steps.
9.33am: A dog walker found Willow running around off her lead.
9.35am: Nicola’s mobile phone was found at the bench by Penny Fletcher. Willow’s harness and lead were halfway between the bench and the river.
10am: Penny called a pal. Eventually another one contacted Nicola’s partner Paul, who said she was “struggling”.
11am: Nicola was reported missing to police.
JANUARY 28: Huge search operation underway.
FEBRUARY 15: Police reveal Nicola was graded as “high risk”, saying she struggled with menopause and alcohol.
FEBRUARY 19: Nicola’s body was found in the river.
MAY 9: It is revealed police will face no further action following investigation by two watchdogs.
June 26: Two-day inquest starts

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