A forensics search expert who joined the search for missing mum-of-two Nicola Bulley has said that he is "keeping all of the options open" when it comes to her disappearance.
Peter Faulding, founder of private underwater search and recovery company Specialist Group International, was brought in by Nicola's family to scour the River Wyre for three days with his team in an attempt to locate the 45-year-old after she vanished more than two weeks ago. The team has since exhausted their search with no sign of the missing dog walker as police continue looking further downstream and towards the coast.
However, the search expert told SurreyLive that he would be 'surprised' if Nicola were to be found in the water, confirming that she was "categorically" not in the area of the river searched by his team. He said: "On the day Nicola went missing the police dive team conducted a thorough search and there was no sign of Nicola.
READ MORE: Nicola Bulley's partner Paul Ansell recalls moment he started to 'panic' on day of her disappearance
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"The bottom of the bank is very shallow, about two feet. If she fell in she could stand up in there, to the side at least. As the police divers searched initially I would have expected them to find her if she was in there that day. Bodies don't drift that far."
Lancashire Police said in a statement issued yesterday their belief remains that Nicola "may have fallen into the river", but added that they are "keeping an open mind" as they continue to investigate all possible leads into the missing mum. And Peter echoed this as he shared his own theories into Nicola's unexplained disappearance.
"There are always other areas to look at. Has she been abducted?" he asked.
"The theory that she has run off is highly unlikely. She didn't take any of her possessions and she wouldn't leave her children under any circumstances," he explained. "The family are open to that and all sorts of avenues. It's really strange."
Detailing what he believes needs to happen next in the investigation, Peter told SurreyLive: "We have to look at the whole area. There's detailed land searches that need to take place. There is a lot to do.
"She [Nicola] was a creature of habit and she took the exact same route. She never walked next to the river. It's rather odd... it's very odd," he admitted.
The police reminded members of the public in their most recent update on Friday that there is "absolutely nothing" in their investigation that has so far suggested third-party involvement in Nicola's disappearance, or that "anything untoward" has happened. The force are continuing to comb through hundreds of pieces of information as they continue their search.
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