A former paddleboard tour company owner has admitted to gross negligence manslaughter following the deaths of four people during a tour in October 2021.
Paul O’Dwyer, Andrea Powell, Morgan Rogers, and Nicola Wheatley lost their lives while paddleboarding on the River Cleddau in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire. Nerys Bethan Lloyd, 39, a former police officer from Port Talbot, previously owned Salty Dog, the company that operated the tour. Four others survived the incident. The company has since been dissolved.
Appearing at Swansea Crown Court on Wednesday, Lloyd pleaded guilty to gross negligence manslaughter as well as an offence under the Health and Safety at Work Act. The case had faced previous delays due to legal aid issues. She remains on bail and will be sentenced in April.
Following the plea hearing, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) stated that the tour on 30 October 2021 went ahead despite warnings of heavy flooding and severe weather conditions. Prosecutors highlighted that the river was flowing rapidly, and the weir was in a highly dangerous state. Three participants were pulled over the Haverfordwest Town Weir and became trapped.
Paul O’Dwyer, an instructor on the tour, initially exited the river safely but re-entered the water to attempt a rescue. Tragically, all four victims drowned.
The CPS further revealed that Lloyd lacked the necessary qualifications to lead such a tour and that her planning and supervision were inadequate. The prosecution followed a joint investigation by Dyfed-Powys Police and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
Lisa Rose, a specialist prosecutor with the CPS Special Crime Division, described the incident as “an avoidable tragedy.”
“Despite checking the river conditions before the tour, Nerys Lloyd failed to inspect the weir,” she said.
“The majority of participants had little experience, and Lloyd was not qualified to lead a paddleboarding tour in such dangerous conditions.
“There was no safety briefing, no formal risk assessment, and participants were unaware they would have to navigate a weir. No exit strategies were provided.
“The final decision to proceed with the tour rested entirely with Lloyd, making her solely responsible for the events that unfolded.”
Rose expressed hope that the convictions would provide some measure of justice for the victims’ families and loved ones, adding that “our thoughts remain with them at this difficult time.”
