MISSING Nicola Bulley's worried friends do not believe the mum drowned as she is an "incredibly" strong swimmer.
Police believe the mum-of-two, 45, fell in the River Wyre, possibly while retrieving her dog Willow's ball.
But Nicola's friends have questioned the "hypothesis" as the search reaches its tenth day.
Pal Tilly Ann has confirmed Nicola was an "incredibly strong swimmer".
While another friend, Emma White, spoke as specialist divers joined the search today.
Specialist Group International (SGI) – headed by forensic expert Peter Faulding – are using sonar to scour the water.
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Emma told Good Morning Britain: "We hope they uncover nothing, like the police have done for the last ten days, and we hope Nicola is not in that river."
Lancashire Police said previously their “main working hypothesis” is that Nicola had “sadly fallen in the river”.
Supt Sally Riley claimed there may have been an “issue” with dog Willow that led Nicola to the edge of the water.
Police believed the mum could have placed her phone on the bench to retrieve the dog’s tennis ball when she potentially fell in.
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But Nicola’s sister Louise Cunningham has rubbished the hypothesis.
She said over the weekend: "Off the back of the latest police media update, please can I add there is no evidence whatsoever that she has gone into the river, it's just a theory.
"Everyone needs to keep an open mind as not all CCTV and leads have been investigated fully, the police confirmed the case is far from over."
While friend Emma said the theory was based on "limited information".
She added: "When we are talking about a life we can't base it on a hypothesis – surely we need this factual evidence.
"That's what the family and all of us are holding on to – that we are sadly no further on than last Friday.
"We still have no evidence, and that's why we're out together in force."
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