An expert diver involved in the river search for missing mum Nicola Bulley has said he didn't find a body because his equipment is not able to 'penetrate reeds'. Peter Faulding previously claimed he was '100 percent' sure that the 45-year-old was not in the river until Lancashire Police confirmed a body had been found yesterday afternoon in St Michael's on Wyre.
Formal identification of the body, which was found just a mile downstream from where Nicola disappeared on January 27, is yet to take place, the Mirror reports. The mum-of-two's family have been informed of the news and are said to be in 'agony' as they await further guidance from cops.
Diving expert Faulding had been drafted in with his team at Specialist Group International (SGI) 10 days after Nicola's disappearance and spent three days leading a thorough search for the mortgage advisor in the River Wyre. In a previous statement, he confidently said: "If Nicola was in that river, I would have found her. She’s not there."
However this morning in a newly released statement, he explained that his team did not find a body as his specialist sonar equipment 'does not penetrate reeds'. It comes as Mr Faulding previously denied that he had filled the family with false hope.
He explained his team conducted a search of the 'non-tidal part' of the river, past the bench where the mortgage advisor's phone was found. They used 'high-frequency side scan sonar' to search the riverbed and 'categorically' confirmed that Nicola was not there.
He added: "The police underwater search teams and land search teams were searching for three full weeks and were also unable to find Nicola. Unfortunately, it was a member of the public that made a grim discovery, unconfirmed as yet to be Nicola.
"Sadly, the discovery was not found in the river but in the reeds at the side of the river which was not part of our remit as the side scan sonar does not penetrate reeds above or below the water. A riverbank and wade search would be the only way to search this area and we were not involved or tasked with that search.
"The difference between these two search areas has caused a lot of confusion and unfair criticism towards myself and my team at Specialist Group International (SGI). My previous comments said that if Nicola was in the river, I would find her, still standing.
"My team and I at SGI did all we could to assist this family with only our best intentions. I am sure I can say this of everyone who has been involved in this difficult search."
Mr Faulding has said he didn't volunteer his services for 'any limelight or publicity', having previously put forward a number of theories publicly about what could have happened to Ms Bulley. He declared that Nicola might never be found or that it's a possibility she was 'pushed hard from behind' into the river.
He also criticised the police for choosing not to tell him about Nicola's alcohol issues during menopause as he argued he 'would normally be given that information to make my job easier'.
Faulding has said he has been personally affected by the case and wrote on Sunday: "Our thoughts are with Nicola's family and friends at this difficult time. #nicolabulley"
Peter Faulding's statement in full
Although identification has not been formally confirmed I would like to say my thoughts are with the family and friends of Nicola Bulley at this very difficult time. The SGI underwater search team was tasked with searching the river upsteam of weir in the non tidal part of the river, past the bench where Nicola’s phone was found and a mile upstream past this point.
For three days, using high frequency side scan sonar, we thoroughly search the riverbed and can categorically confirm that Nicola was not laying on the riverbed on the days that we searched. We did search the stretch of river where Nicola was found for four hours on our first day and then upstream past the weir on the subsequent two days.
The police underwater search teams and land search teams were searching for three full weeks and were also unable to find Nicola. Unfortunately it was a member of the public that made a grim discovery, unconfirmed as yet to be Nicola. Sadly, the discovery was not found in the river but in the reeds at the side of the river which was not part of our remit as the side scan sonar does not penetrate reeds above or below the water.
A riverbank and wade search would be the only way to search this area and we were not involved or tasked with that search. The difference between these two search areas has caused a lot of confusion and unfair criticism towards myself and my team at Specialist Group International (SGI).
My previous comments saying that if Nicola was in the river, I would find her, still stand. My team and I at SGI did all we could to assist this family with only our best intentions. I am sure I can say this of everyone who has been involved in this difficult search.
I did not volunteer my services, my equipment or my team for any limelight or publicity, I simply wanted to lend extra resources to help a family in despair and this was supported by Lancashire Police. However, there has been unprecedented media and public interest in this case and at every turn, I was asked for an update on my own search, which I provided with only best intentions .
Support for my assistance and my actions have been overwhelmingly positive although I am aware of that some negativity has been towards myself and my team. SGI is the recognised underwater search team for Essex, Surrey, Sussex, Kent, Hampshire and Thames Valley police who we have worked closely alongside for many years.
Unfortunately there are few police underwater search teams left. Each year we locate and recover many unfortunate victims and bring them back to their families. Sadly, for circumstances out of our control, and as hard as we try, sometimes we are unable to locate the missing person.
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