Nicola Bulley's partner describes how morning of disappearance was 'different' and the exact moment 'panic' kicked in

Nicola Bulley's distraught partner has spoken out on the events leading up to her disappearance
Owen Humphreys
Ben Chapman

By Ben Chapman


Published: 11/02/2023

- 10:31

The mother-of-two vanished during a dog walk in St Michael's on Wyre, Lancashire

Nicola Bulley’s partner Paul Ansell said the morning of her disappearance had felt “different”.

The mother-of-two has been missing since January 27, when she vanished during a dog walk in St Michael’s on Wyre, Lancashire.


The river has been searched thoroughly by police divers and outside experts, to no avail.

In an interview, Nicola’s devastated partner revealed a difference in her usual morning routine on the day of her disappearance.

He told Channel 5: “Totally normal, the only difference that morning was, you know usually, when you’ve got children, getting up on a school day.”

He told the channel's Dan Walker: “You probably know yourself is just mayhem isn’t it. Absolute carnage.

"And you know, we're always up a little bit too late sometimes and trying to get them to have their breakfast and sort all that out and then do their hair."

He stated that the key difference was the unusually peaceful nature of the morning.

Nicola Bulley disappeared while walking her dog, Willow
Nicola Bulley disappeared while walking her dog, Willow
Owen Humphreys

Paul continued: "The only difference on that morning two weeks ago was that there wasn't a lot of rushing. I came down and a lot of stuff was already done. "

"The girls were having their breakfast and everything was pretty much ready to go. I came down, Nikki went upstairs to get ready.

"The routine is basically if Nikki is taking the girls and Willow, when I hear her come down, I'll get them in the car.

"It’s a well-oiled machine normally. And if it's my job usually the roles were reversed."

The distraught father-of-two then spoke about the harrowing moment of realisation that his wife was gone.

Asked about the moment the reality “kicked in”, he said: “I just went in the house, put the kettle on, made a cup of tea, went into the living room, and thought I’ve got an hour now to sort of chill and get myself ready for the day.

"Which is what I did. So she's usually back, like, quarter to 10, average 10 o'clock. At a push. So I’d gone up into the office at 10.

The river has been searched extensively in a bid to find Nicola Bulley
The river has been searched extensively in a bid to find Nicola Bulley
Owen Humphreys

"Thinking that she’d be back in a minute, I was just going through some emails and stuff, setting my day up.

"It got to say quarter past 10, and that’s when I thought she was later than usual, but I still wasn't particularly worried because she has come back at quarter past 20 sometimes.

"And again, there was no answer. I tried the mobile again and no answer.

"Now I sort of started to get a bit bit panicky I think. So that's when I thought I'm gonna have to go down there and see if she’s alright.

"See if I can see the car or you know, see what's going on. But I still expected that I’d just get there and you know there she is.

"I just thought basically I'm gonna go out, find her, come home do a bit of work."

Paul’s revelations come as the search for the missing mother entered a 16th day.

Lancashire Police said officers are keeping an “open mind” while continuing to appeal for information about Nicola.

The mortgage adviser’s phone was found on a bench overlooking the river, still connected to a work call.

Police have discounted foul play and are treating the incident as a missing person inquiry.

On Thursday, the focus of their search switched from St Michael’s to around 10 miles downstream where the river empties into the sea at Morecambe Bay, with patrol and rescue boats spotted in the area.

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