The Tragic Disappearance of Nicola Bulley
When Nicola Bulley dropped her two young daughters off at school on that fateful morning in January 2023, no one could have predicted it would be the last time they would see their mother. After the school run, the 45-year-old mum-of-two took the family dog, Willow, for a walk along the River Wyre in Lancashire. She vanished without a trace, leaving her phone logged into a work Teams call on a bench, with Willow running loose nearby.
A Devastating Discovery
Her body was found three weeks later, on January 27, 2023, following an extensive 23-day police search. The inquest concluded that Nicola had accidentally slipped down the river bank into the icy water, with experts stating her death would have been almost instantaneous. The last known image of Nicola shows her with her precious daughters, helping them into the car before school, captured on video doorbell footage outside their home.
At the time of her disappearance, her daughters were just six and nine years old. They were left grappling with daily questions about their mother's whereabouts. After her body was found, the family had to confront the harsh reality of her loss.
Paul Ansell's Harrowing Experience
Paul Ansell, Nicola's partner of 12 years, realised she was missing on that Friday morning. Initially unconcerned, his worry escalated when the children's school called at 10:30 am to report that someone had found Willow and Nicola's phone by a bench. "I mean, that's not a normal phone call to get," Paul explained. "She would never have left Willow." He described the moment as feeling like his legs had given way, with his mind racing, prompting him to call the police while driving.
Nicola's sister, Louise Cunningham, recalled receiving a "panicky and frantic" call from Paul at her desk. He told her, "something's happened, something strange has happened." This marked the beginning of a nightmare for the family.
Life After Loss: A Private Struggle
Today, Nicola's children, partner, parents, and sister focus on maintaining a private life. Paul remains the primary caregiver for their two daughters, now aged nine and twelve. He is committed to providing them with as "normal" a childhood as possible, and the family continues to live in Lancashire, with the girls attending local schools supported by a close-knit community.
Paul has returned to his work as an engineer but keeps a low profile. He has spoken out about the trauma caused by social media speculation, which wrongly linked him to Nicola's death. In a BBC documentary aired in October 2024, Paul described the initial media and social media attention as helpful but soon felt it was like "poking a monster." He received abusive direct messages from strangers, such as "you b******" and "we know what you did," leaving him feeling silenced and unable to respond for fear of misrepresentation.
The Heartbreaking Impact on the Children
Paul tried to stay positive for the sake of their kids during the search, but admitted it was incredibly tough. He tearfully revealed in the documentary that the girls would ask him each night where their "mummy" was. "The nights were the hardest," he confessed. "In the morning, the hope would be strong. It used to go dark at like 4 pm. I'd start panicking that we had only an hour to find her before dusk."
The first thing the girls would do after school was run over and ask, "have we found mummy?" Nicola's mother, Dorothy, shared a poignant conversation with her youngest granddaughter, who said, "Cold, isn't it, Nanny? I hope mummy's not cold and hungry."
Remembering Nicola
Paul sees glimpses of Nicola in their children, describing her as fun, loving, and an "exceptional mum." He said, "Without her, the hole is bigger than you could possibly imagine." Nicola's father, Ernest, tearfully described her at the inquest as a "great daughter, sister, and mother, we couldn't ask for any more from her."
The family's grief is compounded by the public scrutiny, but they strive to honour Nicola's memory while protecting their privacy. The tragic events of 2023 have left an indelible mark, with the children's nightly questions serving as a heartbreaking reminder of their loss.
