A family friend of missing mum Nicola Bulley said 'nothing is making sense' as specialist divers continue to search the river police believe she fell into.
Specialist Group International (SGI) is using sonar to scan the watery depths 12 days after the mum-of-two mysteriously vanished. Family and friends of Ms Bulley, 45, have thrown the police's "theory" that she fell into the water while walking her dog into question.
Mr Faulding, a private search expert with SGI said that if his team is unable to locate Ms Bulley in the river then she is likely not there. He also said that he would not rule out "third party involvement" in her disappearance.
Read more: Nicola Bulley search team leader issues update saying 'we remain open-minded'
Family friend Heather Gibbons said speculation about Ms Bulley's disappearance which has been all over social media was "hard" for the family to take. She also said that members of the public who either bring their children or take selfies have made the area feel like a "tourist spot".
She added: "I think it’s incredibly hard, but up to a certain level, we understand it’s human nature, it’s natural for everyone to have speculation, because the truth is in this, nothing is making sense.
“The turnout for the search has been amazing, it has been incredible.
“But we have noticed it does feel like some people have come to maybe use it as more like a tourist spot, to do their own personal social media things which in some ways we see and understand but it is hard, there’s a lot of people around as it is, so yes, if you are here to join the search, we are really appreciative.
“The truth is if we look at it factually, no-one knows until we have some evidence. I know that the family are massively appreciative of all the police have done.
“As family and friends, the way we are looking at it is, between Peter and his team and the police, we feel we have got the best of the best on that water and hopefully it will be a completion, one way or the other. And if they find nothing, then maybe its time to start looking down other avenues.”
Police say they have ruled out Ms Bulley leaving that area of the river and suspect she may have gone into the water after an “issue” with the dog while walking. After spending Monday searching “three or four miles” of the river until it grew dark alongside Lancashire Police, Mr Faulding told the PA news agency: “It’s a negative search, no signs of Nicola.”
An update on the search is expected by Lancashire Police later today.
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