Nicola Bulley’s emotional partner told an inquest into her death today that she was “looking forward to the future” and was “full of beans” the night before she disappeared.
The mum-of-two took the couple’s dog for a walk the next morning by the river in St Michael’s on Wyre, Lancs, on January 27.
The 45-year-old had dropped her daughters off at school just after 8.30am before taking Willow the dog for a walk on a path that runs by the steep banks of the waterway.
Sadly, Ms Bulley’s body was found in the river on February 19, after a mammoth police and public search operation spanning three weeks.
Speaking at today’s inquest her partner Mr Ansell said she had been “looking forward to the future” before her disappearance.
Giving evidence, he said there had been a “blip” over the Christmas period but that Ms Bulley was “back to herself”.
He said: “The blip over the Christmas period happened but in January she was back to herself, looking forward to the future and everything was on the up.”
“She had a good day the day before (she went missing), came home full of beans, excited with work, with the meetings she had and plans for the year.
A clearly emotional Mr Ansell broke down in tears during his evidence to the inquest and had to leave the room.
Before that he had told the hearing his partner “was an incredible mum”, and in his witness statement said: “Nikki was a quiet person who enjoyed the simple side of life. She was a very private person and kept herself to herself.”
Mr Ansell said he believed Ms Bulley went to put a harness on her dog shortly before falling into the River Wyre. Ms Bulley’s mobile phone was still connected to a work Teams call when it was found on a bench overlooking the water.
Mr Ansell said: “She was still listening to that meeting, so I think she must have maybe put the phone on the bench and gone to put the harness back on Willow.”
On the day he sent her a text message saying: “Have you got lost?”
Mr Ansell said she made “throwaway comments” the month before her death. Dr James Adeley, senior coroner for Lancashire, asked him if Ms Bulley had any suicidal thoughts.
Mr Ansell replied: “There were a couple of throwaway comments during the blip period but nothing that gave me any concern.”
The inquest continues.
