It was previously reported by UK tabloids that Nicola Bulley’s husband had been arrested.
Paul Ansell, the partner of Nicola Bulley, has been living with the profound pain of losing his beloved other half. It has been almost ten months since the tragic disappearance of Nicola, affectionately known as Nikki to her friends and family. This heart-wrenching journey has required her loved ones to navigate life without her presence. Nikki, a devoted mother of two, mysteriously vanished while walking her family’s springer spaniel along the picturesque River Wyre in Lancashire. She had been on a routine morning errand, dropping off her daughters, aged six and nine, at school on that fateful January 27th.
The disappearance of Nikki set off an intense three-week manhunt that gripped the community and left her family and friends in anguish. The desperate search finally came to a heartbreaking conclusion on February 19th when her lifeless body was discovered further down the river. For Paul Ansell, aged 44, this discovery plunged him into unimaginable agony. He shared, “We’re all together; we have to be strong.” The subsequent inquest into her tragic death in June confirmed that Nikki, 45, had accidentally fallen into the water and drowned.
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Nikki and Paul’s love story spanned a remarkable 12 years, during which they welcomed two beautiful daughters into their lives. The couple made their home in Inskip, Lancashire, where Paul worked as an engineer, and Nikki pursued her career as a mortgage advisor. Paul fondly described Nikki as an “incredible mum” who cherished the simple joys of life and maintained a reserved and private demeanor. She was the kind of person who kept to herself, letting her actions speak louder than words.
In a heart-wrenching revelation during the early days of the police search, Paul disclosed that the couple had frequently discussed marriage. They envisioned their daughters as bridesmaids in a joyful celebration of their love. However, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic forced them to put their wedding plans on hold. Speaking to Channel 5 presenter Dan Walker, Paul shared, “We talked about it again seriously at the beginning of 2020. And that was when we really started to actually look at getting something sort of in the calendar.” Little did they know that their plans would be forever altered by the events that followed.
As the search for Nikki continued, Paul faced an indescribable ordeal, describing it as “unprecedented hell.” He found himself grappling with how to comfort and reassure their young children, telling them, “The only thing that I can do is tell them that everybody is looking for Mummy. The best people in the world are looking for Mummy – just to give them that, you know, that level of hope that they can understand that everything that can be done to find Mummy, is being done.”
Paul’s emotional tribute to Nikki revealed a glimpse of the vibrant and loving person she was. He described her as fun, loving, loyal, and transparent, emphasizing that there was no hidden agenda with Nikki—what you saw was precisely who she was. Her exceptional qualities extended to her role as a mother, where she went above and beyond to nurture and care for their daughters. Her love for their children was immeasurable, and she was a shining example of the kind of mother anyone would aspire to be.
Throughout this harrowing ordeal, Paul displayed remarkable strength and resilience, earning admiration from Nikki’s close friends. Charlotte Drake, the couple’s next-door neighbor and a dear friend, praised Paul’s unwavering courage during the quest to find Nikki. She noted, “The strength this man has shown over the past 14 days is nothing short of a miracle.” Charlotte fondly remembered Nikki as the most beautiful person, both inside and out, and a selfless individual who would go to great lengths to help others. Nikki embodied the qualities of a loving, friendly, and genuinely wonderful human being—a role model for mothers everywhere.
Paul’s testimony at the inquest in June was a heartbreaking moment as he broke down in tears while recounting the events surrounding Nikki’s disappearance. He offered his theory, suggesting that she might have gone to put on their dog Willow’s harness before accidentally falling into the river. An eerie detail emerged during the investigation—Nikki’s mobile phone was still connected to a work Teams call when it was found on a bench overlooking the water. Paul shared his belief, stating, “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.”
In the face of unimaginable tragedy, Paul Ansell’s enduring love for Nicola Bulley, his unwavering strength, and his commitment to their daughters shine as a testament to the depth of their bond. Nicola’s memory lives on through the love they shared and the indelible mark she left on those fortunate enough to have known her.