Nicola Bulley diver Peter Faulding responds to ‘unfair’ new documentary
A skilled diver who was involved in the search for Nicola Bulley, which stirred up some debate, has responded to remarks from the police about his participation, featured in a BBC documentary examining her case.
In a statement shared on Friday morning, Peter Faulding emphasized that he felt he was portrayed "unjustly" in the show and wished to "clarify the truth."
Bulley, 45, disappeared on January 27, 2023, after she had dropped her daughters off at school and went for a walk with her dog by the River Wyre in St Michael's on Wyre, Lancashire. Her phone was discovered near a park bench, along with her family pet, Willow, leading authorities to believe she may have fallen into the river.
Faulding, an expert in rescue operations in tight spaces and forensic searches, had shared his knowledge with the media, which led the family to reach out to his private company for assistance. "I was more concerned with his claim that he could demonstrate she wasn't in the water," said Paul Ansell, Bulley's husband, in an interview with the BBC's The Search for Nicola Bulley.
Supporters of Nicola Bulley gather in St Michael's on Wyre holding posters to raise awareness about her disappearance. (Getty Images)
"Peter was incredibly self-assured, which made me feel anxious throughout the entire situation. According to Louise Cunningham, Bulley's sister, Peter was convinced that if she was present, he would have located her."
Ansell shared with the program that on the first day, he didn't discover anything, just as we had anticipated. The following day was much the same.
Sky News reporter Inzamam reported on the show that he presented himself confidently, claiming to be important, but as days passed, he still hadn't located her.
After days of scouring the banks of the River Wyre, Faulding became sure that Bulley wasn’t in the water and thought that someone else might be involved. Ultimately, this assumption turned out to be wrong when Bulley was discovered in the river three weeks later.
In this segment, Yahoo News explores Faulding's professional background and his statements made during the search for Nicola Bulley.
Who Is Peter Faulding? All You Need To Know
On his website, Peter Faulding introduces himself as a top expert in confined space rescue and forensic search.
Starting at the age of five, he describes how he ventured into abandoned mines and caves alongside his father, John. This experience helped him become very adept in tunneling and support methods.
In the 1990s, he trained specialized rescue teams for the London Fire Brigade and search and rescue groups across the UK. One of his significant assignments in 1996 involved locating and safely extracting environmental activists who had taken refuge in man-made tunnels beneath the planned Newbury Bypass.
A year later, he took out the anti-road activist known as "Swampy" from a system of tunnels located beneath the planned route for the A30 Honiton Bypass.
In February 2024, Peter Faulding from Specialist Group International joined police divers in the effort to locate the missing Xielo Maruziva. (Alamy)
Faulding, who resides with his family on a farm in West Sussex, went on to establish a company called Specialist Group International, which specializes in search and rescue as well as handling protest situations. He has also served as an important consultant for the Home Office’s working group focused on policing environmental protests.
As indicated on his website, Faulding was a trailblazer in utilizing side scan sonar technology for searching for missing persons underwater. He has been enlisted to assist in various cold cases and investigations involving murders without recovered bodies.
Faulding is a certified commercial diver and a pilot for both helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft. He has also provided training for police search teams and military staff. Additionally, he served for six years in the 10th Volunteer Battalion of the Parachute Regiment.
Investigation Creates 'Challenges' For Police
During a BBC broadcast, law enforcement officials mentioned that Faulding's participation in the Bulley case created tension with Lancashire Police, as he questioned their belief that the mother of two had accidentally fallen into the river.
"Peter Faulding was not involved in the police investigation. He offered conflicting views. Who are they inclined to trust? And who do they prefer to believe?" remarked Detective Superintendent Becky Smith in the documentary.
Louise Cunningham, Bulley's sister, shared her thoughts on Peter's assurance. She said, "He was very self-assured throughout. I felt so anxious the entire time. Peter was determined that if she was present, he would have located her."
Paul Ansell, Nicola Bulley's partner, was featured in 'The Search for Nicola Bulley.' He reached out to Peter Faulding's diving company for assistance in the search for his partner. (BBC)
After spending three days combing the river without finding anything, Faulding assured the press that he believed someone else was involved.
"I mentioned that if Nicola were present, I'd locate her. If she were in that river, I would have definitely discovered her by now, I assure you, and she's not in there," he informed the journalists.
As she reflects on the speech with a faint smile, Detective Superintendent Smith shares her thoughts with the program: "That was quite a daring claim to make, especially since she was in the river. They didn't want to consider that something had happened to Nikki, so he was giving them the reassurance they were seeking."
On February 19, over three weeks after she went missing, Bulley's body was discovered in the river.
The Aftermath Of The Bulley Case
In November 2023, a report from the College of Policing examined how investigators managed the case and concluded that Faulding had created difficulties for the police search and affected "public trust".
"The review team believes that certain actions taken by him made it more difficult for the investigation team to do their work," it states.
His public comments frequently clashed with the methods used in the investigation and search efforts, causing confusion among the public and diminishing the family's confidence in the process.
Worried about the backlash from the public for restricting ways to search for Bulley, the police decided to take a step back and let Specialist Group International assist in the effort. They reached out to Faulding, who volunteered his services at no cost.
On Tuesday, February 7th, I located Nicola Bulley at the bottom of the River Wyre just six minutes after I began my search using 1800 KHz side-scan sonar. Although the police dive team informed me that the sonar target was a false alarm, I know that sonar doesn’t pick up signals from thin air. They later altered their stance on the matter… pic.twitter.com/szPo456TH8
Certainly! However, I need to know the content of the blog section you'd like me to rewrite in different words. Please provide the text or main points that you want to be rephrased.
Following the publication of the report, Andy Marsh, the chief executive of the College of Policing and Chief Constable, commented: "His communication with the media was not properly aligned with our official statements, which definitely created difficulties and issues for the police force."
Faulding stated in a YouTube video that he actually discovered Bulley in the river just six minutes after starting his search, but that the police disregarded his claim. In a December social media update, he mentioned that he located the body using a 1800 KHz side scan sonar, but the police dive team informed him that what he found was not significant.
"Sonar targets don't just appear out of thin air; they later updated their claim to suggest it was a branch. The visuals are distinct, and the accompanying sonar information is solid and indisputable. For more details, check out my interview as I seek to uncover the truth."
Faulding’s Thoughts On The Program
On October 4, Faulding issued a statement expressing, "My team and I have been treated unjustly, and I want to clarify things."
He mentioned that SGI was approached by Nicola's partner, Paul, to help in the search for her. We willingly offered our services at no cost since we had the necessary tools and skills. Our main goal was to support a family in turmoil after so many days of not being able to locate Nicola.
When I say, “if Nicola had been there, I would have located her,” it’s based on nearly 30 years of experience. Since 1999, I’ve been a leader in utilizing side scan sonar for forensic and underwater searches in the UK. I have no regrets about expressing my confidence in the abilities of my team and myself.
"I reaffirm my earlier comment detailing our account of the situation, stating that I found Nicola Bulley's body at 10:34 on February 7, just six minutes later."
Regrettably, I find it necessary to protect my team’s good name and speak up for the facts. We have consistently approached our work with sincerity and ethics, and we never meant to create any tension with the police or the family.
What Has Peter Faulding Been Up To?
Despite facing conflicts with law enforcement, Faulding was called upon to assist in the search for two-year-old Xielo Maruziva, who went missing after falling into the River Soar in Aylestone, Leicestershire, in February 2024.
Faulding stated that Xielo's family had reached out for his assistance, but according to the Independent, the police overlooked his offer of help.
The article mentions that following additional discussions with search experts and Xielo's family, Specialist Group International was granted permission to take part in the search efforts.
After nearly four months since he fell into the river, Maruziva was finally discovered by four workers at a bridge close to Pebble Beach in the Aylestone Meadows nature reserve.
The documentary about Nicola Bulley will be broadcast on Thursday, October 3rd, at 9 PM on BBC One.
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