The independent forensic search and dive specialist brought in to search for missing mum Nicola Bulley has now explained exactly what he would have done differently if he had known about her health problems.
Peter Faulding, head of Specialist Group International (SGI), said his “usually trusted team and I would not have received this crucial information during our search, which would have changed the search strategy” – even though they were informed every day. It comes after Lancashire Police said Nicola had “significant problems with alcohol brought on by her ongoing struggle with menopause”.
Mr Faulding criticized the decision to release the sensitive information, reports The Mirror. “In my opinion… that information should never have been released this afternoon. It’s not fair,” Mr Faulding said.
“If we were to get that information through the search, she’s a vulnerable ‘misperine’ that’s normal for me to get that information and she has drinking problems and all that, I won’t tell you.
“If I’m told to keep quiet, I’ll keep it between us. Our whole way of dealing with the media may have been different from day one. My thoughts are with the family and I feel bad that information got out,” he added.
However, he said he and his team needed to be kept informed of Nicola’s problems to improve his chances of getting her. He told The Mirror: “Normally I would receive this information to facilitate my work and provide the right resources for this search.”
Mr Faulding explained that he was working on the theory that she slipped into the water. Mr Faulding said that if she had drowned in this way, her body would have been within 500 meters of the entry point due to the weak current and the many shoals.
Mr Faulding was “determined” Nicola could not have slipped into the river – and claimed his three-day search proved it.
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However, he said a potentially suicidal “high-risk” missing person, who might be intoxicated, would behave differently – and could end up in deeper, faster-moving water.
And he said if Nicola had jumped, she would probably have ended up in the sea. This is something he had previously said would be impossible if she slipped and fell.
He also said Nicola’s phone, which had been left on the couch, could have been a red herring. He explained that a disoriented Nicola was able to wander further upstream and got in there.
He explained what he would have done differently if he had received the same information as the police: “We would have extended our search further upstream. Just because you have a phone there doesn’t mean you have an access point. ”
“You can jump in and swim and be like, ‘Oh no, I don’t want to do that. So they start rowing and go downstream.
“If they drown, just fall in and drown, they tend to go straight down. They don’t swim away. Unless it’s high tide and there was no high tide that day.”
(Image: PA)
“If they drown, just fall in and drown, they tend to go straight down. They don’t swim away. Unless it’s high tide and there was no high tide that day.”
Mr Faulding also said if he knew he was looking for someone with “significant drinking problems” he and his team would also “look for other evidence”. He said he would “look for things like whiskey bottles”.
He now wonders if the police will be withheld from more information. “Do you know anything else you’re not telling us?” he asked. “Is there any information here that we don’t actually know?”
However, he also renewed his offer to return and help conduct a land survey – an offer he says the police have yet to accept.
He said: “My offer is open to Lancashire Police but I have had no communication with Lancs Police since we left. Our phone was silent. I don’t call her as I don’t want to get involved, but we haven’t been in contact at all.
“We left the crime scene, the job was done. We did what we were told,” he added.
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Source: Bel Fast Live
