Missing mum-of-two Nicola Bulley may never be found, an underwater search expert has said. Ms Bulley, 45, was last seen walking her dog beside the river in St Michael's on Wyre in Lancashire on January 27.
According to the MailOnline, underwater specialist Peter Faulding told Ms Bulley's partner Paul Ansell of his fears when the pair met at the riverside location in Lancashire where she was last seen. Mr Ansell, 44, spent around two hours at the river on the day Mr Faulding, founder of search team Specialist Group International (SGI), dramatically called a halt to the search of the river after meticulously combing the water.
Mr Faulding said: ''She may never be found. We don't know. No one knows. It is unusual because usually you have some evidence. Here we have nothing. We have nothing to go on apart from a phone and a harness.''
READ MORE: Nicola Bulley mystery continues as river search ends with no sign of missing mum
Mr Faulding was called in to assist divers from Lancashire Police in the search for Nicola. Mr Faulding and his team, from rescue operation Specialist Group International, have been searching the area around the bench, the “entry point” where it is believed by police Ms Bulley fell into the water.
But he said their three-day involvement ended on Wednesday after a "thorough and extensive search of the areas we were tasked with by Lancashire Police" found "no sign of Nicola".
According to the MailOnline, Nicola's friend, Tilly Ann, urged police to search an abandoned house and surrounding outbuildings a short distance from the river. In an updated Facebook post, she wrote: 'The abandoned house and outbuildings etc have not yet been searched as it is not currently a crime investigation!!!!!! (This should have been done straight away!).'
Lancashire Police maintain it is most likely that Ms Bulley feel into the river. However, superintendent Sally Riley has said it is possible Ms Bulley may have gone onto a patch with no CCTV coverage, although she added "every single" suspicion or criminal suggestion has been discounted so far.
Police have said that they are confident Ms Bulley did not leave the field near the river via Rowanwater. However, a statement issued by the force earlier this week said officers had searched a nearby derelict house.
The statement said: "Our enquiries so far have included searches of the river and riverbank which have extended all the way to the sea using specialist search teams, sonar, search dogs, drone and helicopter, house to house and CCTV. We have also spoken to numerous witnesses, analysed Nicola’s mobile phone and fitbit and searched the derelict house on the other side of the river as well as any empty caravans in the vicinity."
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