Paddleboard instructor admits manslaughter of four customers who drowned when she took them out on 'extremely hazardous' river
A former police officer today admitted the manslaughter of four paddleboarders who drowned after getting caught up in a flooded weir in hazardous conditions.
Nerys Lloyd, 39, was in charge of the ill-fated expedition despite not being properly qualified, believed to be Britain's worst ever paddleboarding accident.
Morgan Rogers, 24, Nicola Wheatley, 40, Andrea Powell, 41, and instructor Paul O'Dwyer, 42, died in the accident in October 2021 after the expedition went ahead with no safety briefing despite heavy flooding and severe weather warnings.
The four were trapped by 'hydraulic towback with no means of escape' at the dangerous weir in the town centre of Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, according to an official report.
Lloyd – who was also on the trip as an instructor - was the owner and sole director of outdoor activity company called Salty Dog Co, based in Port Talbot, South Wales, which has now been wound up.
She was dismissed from South Wales Police the following month for an unrelated matter, the force said.
Today at Swansea Crown Court she pleaded guilty to the gross negligence manslaughter of the four victims.
Lloyd also admitted a Health and Safety at Work Act offence.
Afterwards Lisa Rose, Specialist Prosecutor with the Crown Prosecution Service Special Crime Division, 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.
'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.'
The expedition on October 30, 2021, came during heavy flooding and with severe weather warnings were in place.
The river was running fast and the weir was in an extremely hazardous condition, according to prosecutors.
As the group approached the weir, the three participants were pulled over the top into its base and became trapped.
Instructor Mr O'Dwyer, who initially exited the river safely, re-entered the water in an attempt to rescue the others but was immediately dragged over the top.
The four victims died as a result of drowning or immersion.
An expert concluded that the tour should not have taken place while encompassing the weir and that Lloyd did not have a suitable qualification, and her planning and supervision was inadequate.
The prosecution followed a joint investigation by Dyfed-Powys Police and the Health and Safety Executive.
Mr O'Dwyer, Ms Rogers and Ms Wheatley all died at the scene.
Ms Powell died in hospital the following month.
Chief inspector of marine accidents Andrew Moll said: 'Stand-up paddleboarding is probably the fastest growing UK water sport with participation in recent years growing by nearly 300 per cent.
'However, like all water sports, those that buy or rent a paddleboard need to understand the risks.'
Mr Moll said paddleboarders should always wear the right equipment and a quickrelease leash to get away from their boards in dangerous situations.
Detective Superintendent Cameron Ritchie of Dyfed-Powys Police said Lloyd’s ‘catalogue of failures’ led to the ‘tragic and unnecessary deaths’.
Describing the impact on their families, he added: ‘Their loved ones went out to do an enjoyable activity on the river, expecting them to come back home to them, but unfortunately, due to these failures, they didn’t.’
Lloyd, of Aberavon, will be sentenced on April 15.
