A man who helped locate Nicola Bulley's body has broken his silence.
Jason Dean Rothwell and a friend were seen alongside the River Wyre appearing to assist police with the location and recovery of a body at the weekend. It has now been confirmed the body was that of the missing 45-year-old mum.
Mr Rothwell, along with a friend, said they "assisted police" - however stressed he was not asked by Nicola's family or Lancashire police to offer his "spiritualists or medium" services.
As reported by the Mirror, Mr Rothwell posted a statement to Facebook.
He wrote: "Yes it is myself in the images in the media currently circulating relating to the case of Nicola Bulley and yes yesterday morning it was myself and a friend who reported and assisted the police in the recovery of a body from the river Wyre.
"Such as it is it would be inappropriate of me to discuss in any further detail anything we may know about that body at this time, considering a formal identification of that body has yet to be confirmed.
"I would also like to just say a huge thank you to Lancashire police for their help, support and the open mindedness with which they dealt with us, following our call, spiritualists or mediums are obviously not something the police come across every day and I appreciate the respect given to us both.
"It is also important to mention, I was not asked by the police or Nicola’s family to become involved in this case, but having seen the wild speculation and hurtful commentary that has been ongoing, and having previously assisted in the recovery of Michael Brooks, I decided to use what ever “gift” it is we mediums posses to try and locate Nicola Bulley".
He continued to offer "thoughts and prayers" with Nicola's family, adding: "I would add as a final note, I will not be giving any further information or commentary at this time regarding the work involved in finding this person nor is it my place to engage in any discussion on how that body came to originally be in the water."
Officers in Lancashire confirmed on Sunday that a formal identification has yet to be made, but said Ms Bulley's family had been informed of the development.
The 45-year-old disappeared while walking her springer spaniel Willow in the village of St Michael's on Wyre, Lancashire, after she dropped her two daughters - aged six and nine - off at school on January 27.
Today police confirmed the body was Nicola Bulley, saying: “Sadly, we are now able to confirm that yesterday we recovered Nicola Bulley from the River Wyre.
“Nicola’s family have been informed and are of course devastated. Our thoughts are with them at this time as well as with all her loved ones and the wider community.
Nicola's family said: "We will never be able to comprehend what Nikki had gone through in her last moments and that will never leave us.
"We will never forget Nikki, how could we, she was the centre of our world, she was the one who made our lives so special and nothing will cast a shadow over that.
"Our girls will get the support they need from the people who love them the most."
In criticism of two media outlets, the family added: "It saddens us to think that one day we will have to explain to them that the press and members of the public accused their dad of wrongdoing, misquoted and vilified friends and family. This is absolutely appalling, they have to be held accountable this cannot happen to another family.
"We tried last night to take in what we had been told in the day, only to have Sky News and ITV making contact with us directly when we expressly asked for privacy.
"They again, have taken it upon themselves to run stories about us to sell papers and increase their own profiles. It is shameful they have acted in this way. Leave us alone now.
"Do the press and other media channels and so called professionals not know when to stop? These are our lives and our children's lives."
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - sign up to our daily newsletter here .
