A paddleboard business owner has been sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison for gross negligence manslaughter following a tragic incident that resulted in the deaths of four individuals in Wales. Nerys Lloyd, 39, from Aberavon, was the sole director of Salty Dog Co Ltd and faced charges related to the deaths of Paul O’Dwyer, 42, Andrea Powell, 41, Morgan Rogers, 24, and Nicola Wheatley, 40, who drowned during a paddleboarding excursion on October 30, 2021.
During a court hearing at Swansea Crown Court, Lloyd admitted to all four charges of gross negligence manslaughter, as well as one count under the Health and Safety at Work Act. The incident occurred on the Western Cleddau river in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, where severe weather warnings and heavy flooding were in effect that day.
According to court proceedings, Lloyd organized the paddleboarding trip despite the hazardous conditions. The river was flowing rapidly, and the weir was particularly dangerous. The court heard that Lloyd failed to check the weir, provide safety briefings, or inform participants of the weir's presence. Instead, she led the group into the water, a decision that would prove fatal.
As the group approached the weir, all participants except for Lloyd were swept over the top and became trapped in the turbulent water. Four of the participants survived the ordeal, while instructor Paul O'Dwyer, who initially exited the river safely, re-entered to rescue others but was also dragged over the weir, leading to all four fatalities.
During the sentencing, Mrs. Justice Mary Stacey criticized Lloyd's lack of qualifications and her failure to ensure the safety of the participants. She noted that neither Lloyd nor O'Dwyer were qualified to lead such a tour, as they had only completed basic entry-level training earlier that year. The judge described Lloyd's actions as reckless, stating, "You chose to lead the group over a weir in conditions that could not have been more treacherous, placing all of them in extreme danger."
Evidence presented in court indicated that Lloyd had previously discussed alternative routes with O'Dwyer, but these suggestions were dismissed. The court also highlighted that the group had not been provided with appropriate safety gear, as four participants were not wearing wetsuits and one had opted out of wearing a life jacket. Furthermore, there had been no safety briefing, and none of the paddlers had the correct type of leash for their boards.
In the aftermath of the tragic event, families of the victims expressed their grief and anger towards Lloyd. Morgan Rogers' mother, Theresa Hall, stated, "You guided Morgan to her death, and the physical and mental pain that I now live with is too much to bear." Nicola Wheatley's husband, Darren, called Lloyd a "coward" and accused her of hiding behind a "carefully orchestrated smoke screen" while continuing to live her life normally after the incident.
Detective Superintendent Cameron Ritchie of Dyfed-Powys Police emphasized the avoidable nature of the incident, stating, "This was an extremely tragic case resulting in the completely avoidable deaths of four people." He expressed hope that lessons would be learned to prevent such tragedies in the future.
Helen Turner, an inspector with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), echoed similar sentiments, stating that Lloyd was solely responsible for the decision to enter the water under dangerous conditions. She described the event as completely reckless and highlighted the foreseeable risks involved.
After the sentencing, Lisa Rose, a specialist prosecutor with the Crown Prosecution Service, remarked, "Nerys Lloyd should not have taken participants on the water that day; the heavy flooding had left the river running very fast and it was beyond the remit of a beginner’s tour." She reiterated that the conditions of the weir were extremely hazardous, with a high potential for loss of life.
As the court proceedings concluded, the families of the victims were left to grapple with their immense loss. Mark Powell, husband of Andrea Powell, shared the heartbreaking reality of telling their seven-year-old son about his mother’s death, a moment that would forever haunt him.
The tragic events of October 30, 2021, serve as a stark reminder of the importance of safety in adventure sports. In the wake of this incident, authorities are calling for stricter regulations and oversight for adventure activities to ensure that such a tragedy does not occur again.
In light of the court's decision and the emotional testimonies from the victims' families, it is clear that the impact of this tragedy will resonate deeply within the community and beyond. The hope remains that through this painful chapter, lessons can be learned to protect future adventurers.
