A diving knowledgeable who joined the seek for lacking Nicola Bulley has defended his involvement after a physique was discovered close to the place she went lacking.
The physique – which is but to be formally recognized – was discovered a couple of mile from the place the 45-year-old was final seen strolling her canine beside the River Wyre in Lancashire on 27 January.
Peter Faulding and his workforce at Specialist Group International (SGI) joined the search on 6 February and spent three days scanning the riverbed with hi-tech gear with no success.
And following Sunday’s discovery, Mr Faulding defended his workforce’s work, insisting: “We completely search[ed] the riverbed and may categorically affirm that Nicola was not laying on the riverbed on the [three] days that we searched.
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“We did search the stretch of river where Nicola was found for four hours on our first day and then upstream past the weir on the subsequent two days.
“The police underwater search groups and land search groups had been trying to find three full weeks and had been additionally unable to search out Nicola.
“Unfortunately, it was a member of the public that made a grim discovery, unconfirmed as yet to be Nicola.”
In the assertion, Mr Faulding stated the physique was discovered within the reeds along side the river “which was not part of our remit”.
He added: “A riverbank and wade search would be the only way to search this area and we were not involved or tasked with that search.
“The distinction between these two search areas has precipitated plenty of confusion and unfair criticism in the direction of myself and my workforce at Specialist Group International (SGI).
The diving knowledgeable added: “I did not volunteer my services, my equipment or my team for any limelight or publicity.
“I merely wished to lend further assets to assist a household in despair and this was supported by Lancashire Police.
“However, there has been unprecedented media and public interest in this case and at every turn, I was asked for an update on my own search, which I provided with only best intentions.
“Support for my help and my actions have been overwhelmingly optimistic though I’m conscious of that some negativity has been in the direction of myself and my workforce.”
SGI is a recognised underwater search team for several counties and has worked alongside Thames Valley police for years.
The SGI statement ended: “Sadly, for circumstances out of our management, and as laborious as we strive, generally we’re unable to find the lacking particular person.”
Source: information.sky.com”