Pembrokeshire paddleboard death case hears from victims' families

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During a court hearing at Swansea Crown Court, it was stated that an “obvious potential for real danger” was present in the case of a paddleboard tour company owner after the tragic deaths of four individuals. The victims, Paul O’Dwyer, Andrea Powell, Morgan Rogers, and Nicola Wheatley, lost their lives while paddleboarding under hazardous conditions on the River Cleddau in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, in October 2021. Nerys Bethan Lloyd, the former owner of the now-dissolved company Salty Dog, pleaded guilty to manslaughter last month and was found to be lacking the necessary qualifications for conducting the tour.

Prosecutor Mr Mark Watson KC informed the court on Tuesday that there was significant danger due to the limited experience of several group members. Both Nerys Bethan Lloyd and her business partner Paul O’Dwyer were deemed unfit and unqualified for the tour, possessing only a basic entry-level certification unsuitable for the tour’s challenges. Despite briefly checking the river in the town center beforehand, they failed to inspect the weir where the incident occurred. The court was informed that the river was in flood conditions with a strong current on the day of the incident.

In the aftermath of the tragic event, family members of the victims shared their heart-wrenching accounts in court. Mark Powell, the husband of Andrea Powell, recounted the emotional turmoil of seeing his wife in a coma after the incident and described the devastating impact on their young son. Other families expressed their profound grief and loss over the untimely deaths of their loved ones. Addressing Nerys Lloyd directly, they conveyed their anguish, anger, and disappointment over the loss caused by her actions. The court proceedings revealed the ongoing agony and sorrow experienced by the families as they struggle to come to terms with their irreparable losses

Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More

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