Deadly paddleboarding tour: Operator pleads guilty to manslaughter
A woman has pleaded guilty to manslaughter after four people were killed while paddleboarding in Wales.
Nerys Lloyd, former owner of the Salty Dog paddleboard tour company, took seven attendees and one other instructor down the swollen River Cleddau in Haverfordwest on October 30, 2021.
The tour went ahead despite ‘heavy flooding and severe weather warnings’ being in place in the area, and the river was ‘running fast’ and in an ‘extremely hazardous condition’.
Nicola Wheatley, 40, Morgan Rogers, 24, Paul O’Dwyer, 42, and Andrea Powell, 41, all died during the incident and four other paddleboarders survived.
All four victims died due to drowning, with three becoming trapped after being pulled over the top of the Haverfordwest Town Weir.
Mr O’Dwyer was the other instructor and had got out of the water safely before returning to try and rescue the others.
(L-R) Morgan Rogers, Nicola Wheatley, Paul O’Dwyer and Andrea Powell sadly drowned (Picture: Family Handout/PA Wire)
An expert concluded the tour shouldn’t have taken place encompassing the weir, Lloyd did not have a suitable qualification, and her planning and supervision was inadequate.
Lloyd, 39 and from Port Talbot, has pleaded guilty to gross negligence manslaughter and one offence under the Health and Safety at Work Act at Swansea crown court today.
Salty Dog has since been dissolved.
Lisa Rose from the Crown Prosecution Service said: ‘This was an avoidable tragedy. Despite going to check the state of the river before departing on the tour, Nerys Lloyd failed to inspect the weir.
Nerys Lloyd (third from left, on crutches) leaving Swansea Crown Court earlier today (Picture: George Thompson/PA Wire)
‘The majority of participants had limited experience, and Lloyd was not qualified to take paddleboarders out in such hazardous conditions.
‘There was no safety briefing or formal risk assessments, and the participants were not advised that they would be traversing a weir or instructed on options to get out of the water.
‘Final decisions to continue with the event were Lloyd’s decision, and as a result she held complete and entire responsibility.
‘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.’
Lloyd will be sentenced at the same court on April 15.
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