Nicola Bulley's body was identified by dental records after body pulled from river – inquest

Nicola Bulley’s body was identified from her dental records, her inquest has heard.

The missing mum, 45, disappeared more than three weeks ago, with Lancashire Police confirming they pulled a body from the river more than a mile away from when she vanished on Sunday.

It was confirmed on Monday the body was that of Nicola Bulley’s.

Preston Coroner's Court, Lancashire, at the opening of the inquest into the death of Nicola Bulley
Dave Nelson

Opening an inquest into the death of Bulley, senior coroner Dr James Adeley said he had contacted consultant maxillofacial surgeon Ian Edwards to ask him to compare dental records obtained by police from the Great Eccleston dental surgery.He said: “He examined the body that was located in the River Wyre near Rawcliffe Road in St Michael’s on Wyre at 2.15pm on February 20.”

Dr Adeley said the surgeon found restorative work carried out was identical.

He said: “I am satisfied on the balance of probabilities, and more, that positive identification has been made.”

Adeley said: “The family have been informed of the date, time and place of the opening of the inquest and have chosen not to attend for reasons I can quite understand.”

He said remaining evidence gathered by police and the post-mortem examination required “further evaluation” and a full inquest was likely to be held in June, once availability of a Home Office pathologist had been checked.

He said: “This will allow time to collate the facts of the case and allow the experts involved to finalise the findings from investigations that still need to be undertaken.”

The hearing was attended by six members of the press and lasted about five minutes.

It comes as Lancashire Police faced further criticism in their search for missing Nicola Bulley, who’s body was found after a 23-day hunt.

Lancashire Police are carrying out their own internal review of the search for Bulley.
Owen Humphreys

Reports suggest the police force inexcusably turned down help from other constabularies during the search.

Lancashire Police are carrying out their own internal review of the search for Bulley.

Experts had previously cleared the area, finding nothing, with forensic search and rescue specialist Peter Faulding telling GB News he could “categorically say” Bulley’s body was not laying on the river bed when his team searched the River Wyre.