Mystery of Nicola Bulley's missing 10 minutes: Police desperate to discover ... trends now

Mystery of Nicola Bulley's missing 10 minutes: Police desperate to discover ... trends now
Mystery of Nicola Bulley's missing 10 minutes: Police desperate to discover ... trends now

Mystery of Nicola Bulley's missing 10 minutes: Police desperate to discover ... trends now

Police are urgently trying to find out what happened to missing mother Nicola Bulley in a crucial ten-minute window after she was last spotted, as her sister last night said there was 'no evidence whatsoever' she had fallen into a nearby river. 

Ms Bulley, 45, was last seen by a witness at 9.10am on January 27, but it remains unknown what she did until 9.20am, when police know her phone was placed on the bench where it was later discovered.

It comes as Nicola Bulley's family warned last night there is 'no evidence whatsoever' that suggests the missing mother fell in the river, despite police confirming it's their lead theory.

Police expressed concerns the missing mother-of-two may have fallen in the icy cold water on River Wyre while trying to retrieve her dog Willow's tennis ball. Specialist search crews have not recovered the ball - or anything of note - at this stage.

On Friday Ms Bulley's sister Louise Cunningham urged the public to keep an open mind.

Nicola Bulley's sister (pictured together) warned there is 'no evidence whatsoever' that suggests the missing mother fell in the river, despite police confirming it's their lead theory

Nicola Bulley's sister (pictured together) warned there is 'no evidence whatsoever' that suggests the missing mother fell in the river, despite police confirming it's their lead theory

Ms Bulley's sister Louise Cunningham urged the public to keep an open mind in a social media post this evening, tagging Ms Bulley's partner Paul Ansell in the post

Ms Bulley's sister Louise Cunningham urged the public to keep an open mind in a social media post this evening, tagging Ms Bulley's partner Paul Ansell in the post

Willow was known to play with a ball in the area - and even sometimes the river - as evidenced by Ms Bulley's Strava account pictures

Willow was known to play with a ball in the area - and even sometimes the river - as evidenced by Ms Bulley's Strava account pictures 

'Off the back of the latest police media update, please can I add there is no evidence whatsoever that she has gone into the river, it's just a theory,' she said.

'Everyone needs to keep an open mind as not all CCTV and leads have been investigated fully, the police confirmed the case is far from over.'

There are key questions the police are still attempting to answer as the search for Ms Bulley enters its ninth day.

They released a detailed timeline of the mother-of-two's morning, revealing she was last seen walking her dog along the river by a witness who is known to Nicola.

Ten minutes later, at 9.20am, the police know her phone was on the bench it would later be found.

At 9.33am Nicola's dog was found running around in an agitated state, near to the bench where her phone, the dog's lead and harness were lying.

A key part of the investigation concerns what happened during those missing ten minutes.

Investigators are also trying to substantiate whether Ms Bulley put her phone down on the bench herself because her dog was in danger.

At a press conference on Friday, Supt Riley from Lancashire Police said it was 'possible' Ms Bulley rushed to the aid of her dog Willow and consequently fell into the River Wyre.

But they added that was speculation, and her dog was found to be 'bone dry', meaning it most likely did not enter the water at any point.

If Nicola did end up in the water, it could be due to the treacherous and slippery nature of the riverbank in the area - she could have fallen in and become weighed down by her heavy clothing.

But her family have said there are no signs of a fall at the river, which is muddy at this time of year.

Another crucial mystery to be solved is where Nicola and her possessions may be now.

The police are searching a 10-mile stretch of river to the Irish sea but have so far found no sign of the 45-year-old. Members of the public are urged to look out for anything which could belong to her.

Police have confirmed there are other lines of inquiry, including a 'very small area' leading out of the park which has no CCTV nearby and could be crucial to the development of the investigation. 

Ms Bulley's distraught partner attempted to remain composed as he told the media he was trying to protect his daughters

Ms Bulley's distraught partner attempted to remain composed as he told the media he was trying to protect his daughters

Police divers have reportedly not yet located anything of note in the river after nine days of searching

Police divers have reportedly not yet located anything of note in the river after nine days of searching

Divers will continue looking for the missing mother throughout Saturday

Divers will continue looking for the missing mother throughout Saturday 

Substantial CCTV in the region has all but ruled out she exited the park from most of the surrounding gates, but the path leading to Garstang Lane toward the A5/A6 has thus far proven to be a camera black spot.

Lancashire Police Superintendent Sally Riley told the Lancashire Post: 'Several exits of the riverside area have CCTV covering them or exits are locked and therefore couldn't have been passed through by Nicola. 

'There's only a very small area onto Garstang Lane toward the A5/A6 which is not covered by CCTV and that's why we're appealing today for dashcam footage or for people who may have been walking on Garstang Lane or driving in the area to come forward if they can.' 

While police are still investigating, their lead theory is that for some as yet unknown reason, she did enter the river on the morning of Friday January 27, shortly after dropping her daughters, aged six and nine, at school.

If Ms Bulley did fall into the water, she may have been weighed down by the heavy clothing she was wearing on the day she vanished. 

Since then Ms Bulley's distraught family have been clinging to hope she may still be alive. 

In the early stages of the investigation they questioned whether it was possible she had been taken, and reportedly even considered if she'd staged her own disappearance.

And when Willow was found by another dog-walker - just 13 minutes after Ms Bulley vanished - she was 'bone dry', leading police to determine she likely had not been in the water, despite being alone, out of her harness and 'worked up'. 

Last night Ms Bulley's family were finding the candid police assessment 'hard to contemplate' but continued to hold onto hope, the Mail was told.

Ms Bulley's desperate parents, sister, partner and daughters have all been living a nightmare over the past week. 

Partner Paul Ansell, a 44-year-old company director, shares the bewilderment of millions who had followed the agonising mystery since his partner of 12 years disappeared.

At the scene yesterday he said: 'My whole focus is my two girls, just staying as strong as I can for them. I'm scared that if I put focus into anything else it's going to take my focus off that. 

'I just can't believe we're a week on, and it seems like we're no further on. It just seems absolutely impossible. Like a dream. I cannot get my head around it. Right now it's like she's vanished into thin air, it's insane.'

Friend Luke Sumner acknowledged the evidence thus far does appear to point to the river.

'It's very, very wet, the banks can be quite steep in certain areas, and the current can be quite fast,' he told Radio 4's PM programme. But he said family and friends continued 'clinging to any hope there is'.

Pictured: Ms Bulley's devastated parents Ernie and Dot, and sister Louise

Pictured: Ms Bulley's devastated parents Ernie and Dot, and sister Louise

Pictured: Ms Bulley's distraught partner, Paul Ansell

Pictured: Ms Bulley's distraught partner, Paul Ansell

Police expressed concerns that the missing mother-of-two may have wound up in the icy cold water on River Wyre while trying to retrieve her dog Willow's tennis ball

Police expressed concerns that the missing mother-of-two may have wound up in the icy cold water on River Wyre while trying to retrieve her dog Willow's tennis ball 

The mother-of-two, 45, was last seen wearing an ankle-length black quilted gilet jacket, a black Engelbert Strauss waist-length coat, tight-fitting jeans and green wellies.

She had a pale blue Fitbit strapped to her wrist as she took her Spaniel, Willow, on a brisk walk through River Wyre - a route she took often after dropping her daughters to school nearby.

Speaking to MailOnline following a press conference in the village of St Michael's on Wyre, Supt Riley said officers were looking at all scenarios.

But she admitted it was 'possible' that Ms Bulley fell into the river while attempting to retrieve a tennis ball for her dog close to the water's edge.

Ms Bulley has been described as a strong swimmer by her family. 

Ms Bulley posted numerous images of herself exercising along the same stretch of the River Wyre to where she was last seen last on the running tracking app Strava.

In a couple of the photos Willow is seen playing with the ball.

Specialist crews were on the water on Friday searching for clues

Specialist crews were on the water on Friday searching for clues

Police divers from North West Police Underwater Unit returned to the River Wyre yesterday to continue scouring the riverbed for clues

Police divers from North West Police Underwater Unit returned to the River Wyre yesterday to continue scouring the riverbed for clues

Supt Riley said: 'I'm not aware of a dog ball being retrieved but it's possible that a ball could have rolled down the steep bank close to the edge of the water and Ms Bulley was bending down to pick it up.

'What she was wearing could also be a factor.

'I don't wish to speculate but the facts are that she was wearing a quilted, ankle-length gilet, which is a big coat, and underneath that there was another coat and then under that coat more clothing.

'She was also wearing ankle-length wellingtons. One would assume they fill with water when someone enters a river so all of that clothing is heavy, particularly on someone who is of slight build and only 5 foot three.'

And outdoor swimming expert Camilla Golledge told MailOnline the shock of the cold water could also limit a person's ability to swim to safety. 

The Kent-based instructor said: 'People are experiencing cold water shock at the moment because the water is so cold... which means that your natural response if to take a big gasp of air, meaning water will fill your lungs.

'Everybody would experience it unless you are an experienced outdoor swimmer.

'It has less to do with the clothes. They certainly won't help.'

Nicola Bulley kept a harness on her dog for walks - prompting questions about why it was found near to where she vanished, but police say this was not out of the ordinary

Nicola Bulley kept a harness on her dog for walks - prompting questions about why it was found near to where she vanished, but police say this was not out of the ordinary

The process of searching the river is tedious and slow moving, but police remain hopeful

The process of searching the river is tedious and slow moving, but police remain hopeful

Police were pictured on the riverbank yesterday as the investigation carried on

Police were pictured on the riverbank yesterday as the investigation carried on

She said Ms Bulley may have been unable to call for help, especially because her clothes and wellies would have weighed her down.

'Most people suffering from cold water shock or drowning in open water are people that did not mean to be there,' Ms Golledge said.

'What you need to do is coach your breathing, get in slowly, rather than falling or jumping in.

'Even I as an experienced open water swimmer, I get in slowly and I have to coach my breathing. My body does feel shock with that unnatural breath in.'

Supt Riley said there were no reports of anyone in distress, no shouting or splashing, and no footprints were found on the bank. 

Search teams from Lancashire Constabulary are continuing to trawl the River Wyre, working on the hypothesis that the 45-year-old mortgage adviser, from nearby Inskip, could have fallen in.

They will return to the scene at the weekend, aided by specialists and divers from HM Coastguard, mountain rescue, and Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service - with sniffer dogs, drones, and police helicopters deployed.

Detectives are also working behind the scenes to analyse CCTV and dashcam videos, and members of the public with footage which could be useful have been urged to come forward.

Friends of the family said on Friday that Ms Bulley's daughters had been asking: 'Where's Mummy? How is Mummy?' 

Social media sleuths sharing theories about Ms Bulley's disappearance online have been warned they're only adding to the hurt and pain felt by her family.

A friend said: 'They perhaps need to find a better way of occupying their time... They could do something more useful and proactive with their time… help search, share posters, but allegations are cruel and unhelpful.'

Armchair detectives and well-meaning strangers have made wild allegations in the days since Ms Bulley vanished. 

Some people claiming to be psychics say they had visions of the mother-of-two in the river, while others insist she was 'taken' - despite repeated police statements saying there does not appear to be third party involvement.

Speaking to The Mirror, a

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