A former firearms officer who led a beginner paddle boarding tour that ended in one of the UK’s worst ever water sport tragedies has been jailed for 10 years and 6 months.
Nerys Lloyd, 39, from Aberavon, South Wales, was sentenced at Swansea Crown Court after admitting four counts of gross negligence manslaughter and an offence under the Health and Safety at Work Act. Her reckless actions led to the deaths of Morgan Rogers, 24, Nicola Wheatley, 40, Andrea Powell, 41, and Paul O’Dwyer, 42, on the Cleddau River in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire in October 2021.
Lloyd, the director of outdoor adventure company Salty Dog Co Ltd, failed to deliver a safety briefing and ignored severe weather warnings and flood alerts in place at the time. The group was unaware of a dangerous 4ft-high weir, where the paddle boarders were pulled into a deadly recirculating hydraulic current described as being like a “washing machine.”
Despite the hazardous conditions, Lloyd pressed ahead with the tour, navigating herself down a narrow fish pass before the others were swept over the weir. The intense force of the water proved fatal for four of the participants, who were also hampered by “unsuitable” ankle leashes that kept them attached to their boards and trapped in the torrent.
‘Devastating Losses’ and a Lack of Remorse
Delivering her sentencing, Mrs Justice Stacey told Lloyd: “Your failings led to the deaths of four people. They were all cut off in their prime. The loss is incalculable and irreparable.”
The judge added that Lloyd had shown a lack of true remorse, saying: “Being sorry for what happened is different from taking responsibility. There was no health and safety briefing, no mention of the weir, and no proper exit plan. This was gross negligence.”
Victims’ Families Speak Out
Theresa Hall, mother of Morgan Rogers, said outside court: “I will never forgive Nerys Lloyd for what she has taken from me. I lost a part of myself that day.”
Darren Wheatley, widower of Nicola, said: “Two young children lost their mammy. Nicola died in circumstances that were completely avoidable.”
During the trial, it was revealed Lloyd had tried to shift blame onto her co-instructor Mr O’Dwyer, who also died. In a private conversation recorded on her phone shortly after the tragedy, she said: “I’m going to jail for this.”
Lloyd had previously worked as a firearms officer with South Wales Police but was suspended prior to the tragedy following an unrelated fraudulent insurance claim.
Prosecutor: ‘She Had No Business Leading This Tour’
Lisa Rose, Specialist Prosecutor with the CPS, said: “Lloyd was not qualified to lead a group of inexperienced paddleboarders into fast-flowing, flooded waters. She ignored all the warning signs. Her actions fell far below the standard expected of someone in her role.”
She continued: “This was an avoidable tragedy. She had a duty of care and failed every step of the way.”
UK’s Worst Paddleboarding Disaster
The incident, which occurred on October 30, 2021, is considered the worst paddleboarding tragedy in British history. Inquests into the deaths highlighted the shocking lack of preparation and safety measures.
Emergency responders described the scene as “chaotic,” and rescuers battled for hours to retrieve the victims, while families were not contacted promptly due to a lack of next of kin information being collected.
A Tragic Warning
The case has reignited concerns over the regulation of adventure sports and the importance of proper risk assessment, qualifications, and planning. Justice Stacey concluded her remarks with a warning: “This tragedy stands as a stark reminder of what can happen when safety is sacrificed for excitement.”
Lloyd will serve at least two-thirds of her sentence before being considered for release.
