Four Lives Lost in Dangerous Conditions on River Cleddau, Wales
Nerys Lloyd, 39, the former owner of the now-dissolved paddleboarding company Salty Dog, has pleaded guilty to four counts of manslaughter after leading a group of paddleboarders into flooded and perilous conditions in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire in October 2021.
Victims Paul O’Dwyer (42), Andrea Powell (41), Morgan Rogers (24), and Nicola Wheatley (40) died after being swept over a weir on the River Cleddau, described in court as being in “flood conditions” with “visibly strong currents” due to prior heavy rainfall.
Unqualified Leadership and Poor Judgment
Prosecutor Mark Watson KC told Swansea Crown Court that Lloyd lacked the required qualifications to lead the tour and failed to carry out basic safety measures — no risk assessments, no waivers, and no next-of-kin details were recorded.
Though participants raised concerns before the outing, Lloyd dismissed safer route suggestions, reportedly calling one “boring” and choosing to proceed with the original, more dangerous plan.
CCTV and accident investigation footage showed the turbulent force of water in the weir area, where bystanders’ rescue attempts failed amid conditions described as “equivalent to two tonnes of water per second crossing the weir crest.”
Victims’ Families Deliver Powerful Statements
In court, grieving family members delivered harrowing statements. Theresa Hall
Nicola Wheatley’s husband, Darren, called Lloyd “a coward” and described the pain of identifying Nicola’s body in the morgue. “You disgust me,” he told her, while recounting the contrast of Lloyd’s apparent holiday celebrations after the deaths.
Andrea Powell’s husband, Mark, broke down as he described telling their 7-year-old son that his mother had died. “He said he wanted to die so he could be with his mother again,” Mark added through tears.
Owner Blamed Others, Showed Little Remorse
Lloyd initially told police she conducted safety checks and considered conditions suitable. However, multiple survivors contradicted this, stating that no safety briefing occurred and that the group was led straight into danger without proper preparation.
Though Lloyd eventually accepted responsibility, the court heard she had spent months trying to deflect blame, including onto co-instructor Paul O’Dwyer, who also died while attempting to help others during the accident.
Calls for Reform in Outdoor Activity Safety
This tragedy has sparked renewed scrutiny over safety regulations in the UK’s outdoor adventure industry. Victim families and legal experts have called for stricter licensing, clearer qualification standards, and better oversight of adventure tourism companies.
The Marine Accident Investigation Branch previously concluded that the deaths were “entirely avoidable.”
As the case closed, one survivor, Jemma Dugdale, summed it up: “This happened because of poor decision making by people who did not have the skills, knowledge, or expertise.”
Category: Crime & Courts, UK News, Outdoor Safety, Wales News
Tags: River Cleddau, Nerys Lloyd, Paul O’Dwyer, paddleboard deaths, Haverfordwest accident, manslaughter case UK, Swansea Crown Court, Andrea Powell, Morgan Rogers, Nicola Wheatley, paddleboarding tour negligence
