Ex-Paddleboard Company Owner Sentenced Over Fatal River Incident That Claimed Four Lives
A former paddleboarding business owner has been sentenced to 10 years and 6 months in prison after four people tragically drowned during a group outing on the Western Cleddau river in Haverfordwest, Wales, in October 2021.
Nerys Bethan Lloyd, 39, from Port Talbot, pleaded guilty to gross negligence manslaughter for organizing the tour despite having no professional qualifications to lead such an activity. Her co-instructor, Paul O’Dwyer, who also lacked the necessary certification, was among the four who died in the incident, alongside Nicola Wheatley, Morgan Rogers, and Andrea Powell.
The group encountered dangerous flood conditions caused by heavy rain in the preceding days. As they attempted to navigate a steep weir near County Hall, they were sucked into a hydraulic spin, a powerful recirculating current compared to a “washing machine.” The use of ankle leashes, which are unsafe in such fast-moving water, made escape nearly impossible for those trapped.
During sentencing at Swansea Crown Court, Mrs. Justice Stacey condemned Lloyd’s actions, highlighting her disregard for safety despite her training in the police and RNLI. The court heard she rejected safer route suggestions and deliberately chose the risky weir route for added excitement.
“Your blatant disregard for a very high risk of death cost four people their lives,” the judge told Lloyd, adding the victims fell down the weir’s face in less than 20 seconds.
The victims were part of an eight-person tour organized by Lloyd’s company. O’Dwyer initially escaped but returned in an attempt to help the others and lost his life in the process. Ms. Powell later died in hospital, while the other three were pronounced dead at the scene.
Lloyd, who was captured on bodycam footage at the riverbank after the disaster, expressed horror at the outcome, but the court noted that her choices directly led to the tragedy. The sentencing brings a measure of justice to the families of the victims, who had trusted Lloyd’s leadership that fateful day.
