A woman has been jailed for 10 years and six months over the deaths of four paddleboarders in Wales. Nerys Bethan Lloyd, a former police officer and the owner of Salty Dog Co Ltd, pleaded guilty last month to four counts of gross negligence manslaughter and one offence under the Health and Safety at Work Act.
The tragic incident occurred on October 30, 2021, when Paul O'Dwyer, 42, Andrea Powell, 41, Morgan Rogers, 24, and Nicola Wheatley, 40, died after their paddleboards went over a weir in the River Cleddau, Pembrokeshire, during "extremely hazardous conditions". The four were part of a stand-up paddleboarding tour organized by Lloyd.
During the excursion, the group encountered a weir that was described by paddleboarding expert Andrew Gratwick as presenting an "extremely serious risk" that should have been obvious to any competent instructor. The tour took place despite severe weather warnings and a flood alert issued by Natural Resources Wales.
In court, Mrs Justice Stacey stated that Lloyd showed a "blatant disregard" for the risk of loss of life. She emphasized that the weir posed an "obvious and extreme danger" and criticized Lloyd for her lax approach to health and safety. Despite the hazardous conditions, she failed to provide a safety briefing to the participants or inform them about the weir.
Prosecutor Mark Watson KC noted that there were no wetsuits provided for four of the participants, and one had no life jacket. He accepted that Mr O'Dwyer bore some responsibility but insisted that Lloyd was "primarily responsible for the needless loss of life". The court heard that both Lloyd and Mr O'Dwyer had only basic entry-level qualifications for leading such an activity.
On the day of the incident, the river was flowing rapidly due to heavy rain, with the intensity of the water equivalent to nearly two tonnes crossing a one-metre-wide crest of the weir every second. Eyewitness accounts indicated that all seven participants were taken by surprise by the presence of the weir, which they could not navigate in the chaotic situation that ensued.
After the incident, Lloyd was recorded saying, "It's my fault 100%. I probably shouldn't have gone on the water." In the aftermath, she expressed remorse, stating she accepted "full blame" for the tragedy. However, the judge pointed out that Lloyd had attempted to shift some of the blame onto Mr O'Dwyer, who had also died trying to rescue the others.
Mrs Justice Stacey commended Joel Williams, a bystander who attempted to assist the victims, for his "incredible bravery". She also acknowledged the emotional impact of the tragedy on the families of the victims, stating that they had shared moving accounts of their loss.
In the court proceedings, it was revealed that Lloyd had previously been suspended from the South Wales Police for a fraudulent car insurance claim. Despite this, she had organized the paddleboarding tour, which was deemed unsuitable for the conditions present that day.
Detective Superintendent Cameron Ritchie from Dyfed-Powys Police expressed his condolences to the families of the victims, emphasizing the tragedy of the situation and the need for lessons to be learned to prevent such incidents in the future. HSE Inspector Helen Turner stated that Lloyd was solely responsible for the decision to enter the water while it was in flood conditions, labeling her actions as completely reckless.
As the judge delivered her sentence, she reiterated the devastating impact of the incident on the families involved. "These individuals were cut off in their prime," she noted, highlighting the lives that were lost and the grief experienced by their loved ones.
The case has drawn attention to the importance of proper training and adherence to safety protocols in adventure sports. Experts have called for stricter regulations and oversight to ensure that similar tragedies do not occur in the future.
Lloyd's sentence has sparked discussions about accountability in the outdoor activity industry, particularly regarding the qualifications required for leading such excursions. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers associated with adventure sports and the critical importance of prioritizing safety.
As the paddleboarding community reflects on this tragic event, many hope that increased awareness and regulation will help to ensure the safety of participants in the future. The families of the victims continue to grieve, seeking closure and justice for their loved ones lost in this avoidable tragedy.
