Nerys Lloyd age 39 who owns Salty Dog Co Ltd pleaded guilty to manslaughter charges for gross negligence since four people died during a paddleboarding excursion in Haverfordwest Pembrokeshire. The fatal incident took place on October 30, 2021 while the group members navigated the dangerous conditions on the River Cleddau.
Incident Details
Heavily flooded conditions accompanied the fatal day of events because heavy rainfall caused fast-flowing waters at Haverfordwest Town Weir which became extremely dangerous. Boarding operations moved forward despite the dangerous water conditions that were present. Three members of the group faced dangerous circumstances at the weir which caused them to become stuck. The incident started when instructor Paul O'Dwyer safely got out of the river while the others approached the Haverfordwest Town Weir. Then he returned to the river to save his three clients but all four victims drowned because both he and the clients were consumed by the dangerous waters. The life-ending drowning took Paul O'Dwyer aged 42 as well as Andrea Powell who was 41 and Morgan Rogers who was 24 and Nicola Wheatley at 40 years old.
Legal Proceedings
Previous police officer Lloyd lacked appropriate qualifications when leading paddleboarding tours under dangerous circumstances. Authorities discovered many crucial planning and safety implementation failures during their investigation.
The participants received no advice about the adjacent weir or alternative escape paths.
Risk Assessment failed to exist because the team did not perform the required examinations to measure the threats from harsh weather and river conditions.
The court found Lloyd responsible for four counts of gross negligence manslaughter coupled with violating the Health and Safety at Work Act because of his planning failures. A court will hear her sentencing case on April 15, 2025.
Community Impact
The tragic event caused massive effects on the nearby community as well as the surviving families of those who perished. People have paid tribute to the victims because their grieving family members continue to suffer a powerful sense of grief.