Ex-police officer admits manslaughter after four drowned in Haverfordwest paddleboarding ‘tragedy’
A former police officer has pleaded guilty to gross negligence manslaughter following the deaths of four people during a paddleboard tour in 2021.
Nerys Bethan Lloyd, 39, from Port Talbot, admitted responsibility for the drownings that occurred on the River Cleddau in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire.
The former owner of Salty Dog, a now-dissolved paddleboard tour company, also pleaded guilty to one offence under the Health & Safety at Work Act at Swansea Crown Court.
The paddleboard tour took place on October 30, 2021, despite “heavy flooding and severe weather warnings” being in place, the Crown Prosecution Service had said.
Paul O’Dwyer, Andrea Powell, Morgan Rogers and Nicola Wheatley drowned in what were described as “extremely hazardous conditions”.
The river was running fast and the weir was in a dangerous state when the tragedy occurred.
Three participants became trapped after being pulled over Haverfordwest Town Weir.
O’Dwyer, who was an instructor, initially exited safely but re-entered the water attempting to rescue others.
The prosecution revealed Lloyd did not have suitable qualifications to run the tour in such conditions.
Her planning and supervision were deemed inadequate by investigators.
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“Despite going to check the state of the river before departing on the tour, Nerys Lloyd failed to inspect the weir,” the CPS’s special prosecutor Lisa Rosa said.
There was no safety briefing or formal risk assessment provided to participants.
Most paddleboarders had limited experience and were not advised they would be traversing a weir.
Lloyd held “complete and entire responsibility” as final decisions to continue were hers.
O’Dwyer, from Port Talbot, Rogers, from Merthyr Tydfil, and Wheatley, from Pontarddulais, all died at the scene.
Powell, from Bridgend, later died in hospital on November 5, 2021.
Rose added: “I hope these convictions provide some sense of justice for those affected and our thoughts remain with the families and friends of the victims at this time.”
The case followed a joint investigation by Dyfed-Powys Police and the Health & Safety Executive.
Lloyd appeared in the dock wearing a blue shirt and dark trousers, using crutches during the hearing.
She will remain on bail until her sentencing.
The former police officer is scheduled to learn her fate on April 15 at Swansea Crown Court.
The case has highlighted serious safety failures in adventure tourism activities.