NERYS BETHAN LLOYD, 39, a former police officer, has appeared before magistrates charged with the manslaughter of four people who died during a paddleboarding incident in Haverfordwest.
Lloyd, of Jersey Quay, Aberavon, is accused of unlawfully killing Andrea Powell, Morgan Rogers, Nicola Wheatley, and Paul O’Dwyer. The four victims were part of a stand-up paddleboard tour on the River Cleddau on October 30, 2021, which ended in tragedy.
In addition to the manslaughter charges, Lloyd faces a fifth charge under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. Prosecutors allege that she failed to discharge her general health and safety duties, exposing the victims and others in the group to risks to their health or safety. The alleged failure, which contravenes Section 3(2) of the Act, relates to her role as the sole director of the now-defunct outdoor activity company, Salty Dog Co., which organised the tour.
The River Cleddau in Haverfordwest (Image: Herald)
Lloyd appeared before District Judge Mark Layton at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court earlier today (Tuesday, Dec 3). During the hearing, she submitted no pleas to the charges.
Given the seriousness of the case, Judge Layton declined jurisdiction, and the matter was committed to Swansea Crown Court. Lloyd is set to appear there on January 3. She was released on unconditional bail.
The charges stem from Britain’s worst paddleboarding accident, which claimed the lives of four people after they were caught in a flooded weir on the River Cleddau. A report by the Marine Accidents Investigation Branch found that the group had been trapped by hydraulic towback at the weir, with no means of escape.
Lloyd, who left her position with South Wales Police three months after the tragedy, now works for a community charity. The investigation into the incident, conducted by Dyfed-Powys Police and the Marine Accidents Investigation Branch, spanned two years and highlighted safety shortcomings in the organisation of the paddleboarding excursion.
The deaths of the four paddleboarders — Andrea Powell, 41, Morgan Rogers, 24, Nicola Wheatley, 40, and Paul O’Dwyer, 42 — profoundly affected both their families and the wider community. Tributes poured in following the tragedy, with the victims remembered as devoted family members, friends, and outdoor enthusiasts.
Today’s court appearance marks the start of a legal process that has already drawn significant attention and raised questions about safety standards in outdoor water sports.