19 February 2023 , 22:28
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An ashen-faced man who found a body close to the River Wyre where Nicola Bulley disappeared told police: "It was the body of a woman - there is definitely a body down there", a witness said.
As the missing mum-of-two’s distraught family waited anxiously to discover if it was her, the local resident said a helicopter and drone were deployed to help in the search.
Police were alerted by a man and a woman who had been walking along the River Wyre at St Michael’s on Wyre, Lancs.
The ashen-faced couple sat on the wall vaping as officers frantically called for back up.
A first officer on the scene was told by the man: “It was a body. It is down there. It was a body of a woman. There is definitely a body down there.”
Mum appeared 'completely normal' moments before vanishing while walking dog
Police closed off roads after members of the public reported finding a woman's body (Getty Images)The witness said: “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.
“I could still clearly see the man pointing at the riverbank. Then more police cars raced down with the blues and twos going. They cleared the entire road.” Senior Investigating Officer Det Supt Rebecca Smith arrived at the area to oversee recovery of the body. A white forensic tent was also erected at the scene.
Nicola Bulley hasn't been seen since January 27 (Lancashire Constabulary / SWNS.C)The body was found a mile downstream from where Nicola vanished on January 27.
Sky News correspondent Inzamam Rashid told how he had been in contact with Nicola’s family. He said: said: “They are incredibly heartbroken and they will really be struggling tonight.” Lancashire Police said in a statement: “We were called today at 11.36am to reports of a body in the River Wyre.
An aerial view showing the location where the body was found today, and the bench where Ms Bulley was last located“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 ongoing.
“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.” If the body does turn out to be Nicola’s, police will now have to find out if she fell in the water or entered deliberately and how it took so long to find her.
Nicola, of St Michael’s on Wyre, vanished on a walk with the family dog Willow, after dropping her children at school. The mortgage adviser had sent an email to her boss before logging into a Teams call. Nicola’s phone, facing upwards, and Willow were found at the bench by another dog-walker.
Devastated parents promise to never stop looking for mum-of-two who vanished
The pet’s harness and lead were halfway between the bench and the river. It was yesterday reported that a detective who worked on the case of murdered community police officer Julia James has been drafted in to help solve Nicola’s disappearance.
Police face fierce criticism last week after disclosing Nicola had faced “significant issues with alcohol” brought on by the menopause.