Paddleboard firm owner admits manslaughter of four

Nicola Wheatley, 40, Morgan Rogers, 24, Paul O'Dwyer, 42, and Andrea Powell, 41, died in the incident in 2021

A paddleboard tour company owner has admitted to gross negligence manslaughter after the deaths of four people.

Paul O'Dwyer, Andrea Powell, Morgan Rogers and Nicola Wheatley drowned while paddleboarding in "extremely hazardous conditions" on the River Cleddau, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, in October 2021.

Nerys Bethan Lloyd, 39, an ex-police officer from Port Talbot, is the former owner of Salty Dog, the now-dissolved company operating the tour that the four, and four others who survived, were on.

It was revealed she did not have the correct qualifications to run the tour.

At Swansea Crown Court on Wednesday, she also pleaded guilty to one offence under the Health and Safety at Work Act.

Nerys Lloyd has admitted manslaughter by gross negligence

Following the plea hearing, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said the paddleboard tour on 30 October 2021 occurred despite "heavy flooding and severe weather warnings" being in place.

It added "the river was running fast and the weir was in an extremely hazardous condition", and three of the participants became trapped after being pulled over the top of the Haverfordwest Town Weir.

Mr O'Dwyer, who was an instructor on the tour, initially exited the river safely, but then re-entered the water in an attempt to rescue the others.

The four victims died due to drowning.

The CPS added Lloyd did not have a suitable qualification, and her planning and supervision was inadequate, with the prosecution following a joint investigation by Dyfed-Powys Police and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Floral tributes were laid close to where the paddleboarders died on the River Cleddau in Haverfordwest

Lisa Rose, specialist prosecutor with the CPS special crime division, added it 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," she said.

"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."

Mr O'Dwyer, from Port Talbot, Ms Rogers, from Merthyr Tydfil, and Ms Wheatley, of Pontarddulais, all died at the scene.

Ms Powell, from Bridgend, died in hospital on 5 November 2021.

Nerys Lloyd arrived at Swansea Crown Court on crutches for her plea hearing on Wednesday

Ms Rose continued: "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, who appeared in the dock wearing a blue shirt and dark trousers and using crutches, will remain on bail until her sentencing on 15 April.