Paddleboard Tragedy: “Guided to Her Death,” Court Hears

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A court has been told a paddleboarder was “guided to her death” during the sentencing of a tour company owner after four people drowned.

Paul O’Dwyer, 42, Andrea Powell, 41, Morgan Rogers, 24, and Nicola Wheatley, 40, died while paddleboarding in “extremely hazardous conditions” on the River Cleddau in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, in October 2021.

Nerys Bethan Lloyd, 39, from Port Talbot, the former owner of Salty Dog, pleaded guilty to manslaughter last month. The now-dissolved company operated the tour. It was revealed she lacked the proper qualifications.

On October 30, 2021, a group of seven participants and co-instructor Paul O’Dwyer started their trip after 9:00 AM.

Prosecutor Mark Watson KC told the court that heavy rain had caused the river to flood with a “visibly strong current”.

“Of the eight individuals who went over the weir that day only four survived,” he said.

Watson described desperate attempts by “bystanders who tried to throw lifelines into the weir”. The water’s intensity “was the equivalent of two tonnes of water crossing the 1m of the weir crest every second.”

Photos of the weir, specifically the fish pass between the right and left crest, were shown to the court. The fish pass was 11m (36ft) long with a 14% incline.

The court also saw footage of the weir conditions the day after the incident. Watson noted the “immense turbulence” made the fish pass’s side walls “barely, if at all, to be seen.”

There was “significant interest” in the tour when it was advertised, leading to a WhatsApp group. Before the trip, some participants expressed concerns.

O’Dwyer told Wheatley that every paddleboard trip was “aimed at beginners.” He suggested alternative routes to Lloyd, one of which she called “boring,” then said, “Maybe stick to the original.”

Police found no risk assessments, waivers, or emergency contact details.

Lloyd claimed O’Dwyer gave a safety briefing while she was away, but participants said no briefing occurred.

During the hearing at Swansea Crown Court, Morgan Rogers’ mother, Theresa Hall, said Lloyd “guided Morgan to her death” and that “the physical and mental pain that I now live with is too much to bear.”

To Lloyd, she said, “You in your arrogance have stopped me being able to fully grieve for my daughter.”

“Every day of my life is absolutely horrendous knowing she died a horrific death,” she added, breaking down in tears and telling Lloyd she would never forgive her “for what you have taken away from me.”

Morgan Rogers’ father, Robert Rogers, described his daughter as a “warm, courageous, happy shiny star to all she knew was extinguished.”

“As a father to have to bury your own daughter is not a path you want any other human being to walk,” he said. “The open wound inflicted will never ever heal. My family will have a life sentence of grief for our remaining days.”

Nicola Wheatley’s husband, Darren, called Lloyd “a coward” who had “hidden behind your carefully orchestrated smoke screen.”

He continued, “I hugged and kissed Nicola goodbye, she was so trusting. The next time I would see her would be to identify her body in the mortuary.”

“This was not the Nicola that left our house less than 24 hours earlier but it is the face I see every day when I open my eyes.”

Angrily, he noted that while they “cried all day” that Christmas, Lloyd posted pictures celebrating Christmas lights with family and friends.

Lloyd remained straight-faced as Mr. Wheatley spoke directly to her, ending his speech by saying: “Nerys Lloyd you are a vile person and you disgust me.”

Mark Powell, husband of Andrea Powell, said the pair moved to Wales to raise their son. He tearfully recalled the last time he saw Andrea “happy and content” was the day before her death.

He later saw Andrea in a coma at Withybush Hospital with cuts and bruises, causing him to “burst into tears”.

Powell said their son Finn “had the most amazing bond” with his mum. When told of her death, the seven-year-old burst into “uncontrollable tears,” a sound that would stay with him forever.

It was “heart-breaking” to hear Finn say he wanted to die “so he can be with his mother again”.

Powell said he was distressed that she did not die peacefully and “cannot forgive” Lloyd’s lack of remorse.

John Taylor, Andrea Powell’s father, said his daughter was the “life and soul of every party.” “Our past, our present and our future will never ever be the same again,” he said.

He called Lloyd and O’Dwyer “not remotely qualified”, stating they only had a “basic entry level qualification” unsuitable for the tour.

An advertisement claimed the trip was run by “two fully qualified instructors”.

Lloyd and O’Dwyer completed two courses on April 23 and 24, 2021, but Watson said it was “clear from the promotional material for the courses” that it was insufficient for the trip.

Lloyd, a former police officer, had first aid training from South Wales Police and the RNLI.

Ceri O’Dwyer, Paul O’Dwyer’s wife, said she was “tortured” by what happened, describing her husband as the kindest man “with the biggest heart”.

She told Lloyd she was once her friend but was met with “blame, rejection and gaslighting” when she tried to “shift blame” on to her husband.

Paul made a “devastating mistake” but “died trying to save others”.

“Grief is in our household every single day. You carried on as if nothing ever happened,” she added.

“Nerys, I do not believe you will ever learn from this, you’ve had three years to show remorse and yet you have continued like this is an inconvenience to your life.”

John O’Dwyer, Paul’s dad, added: “You wake up in the early hours and you cry. You carry on with your day but everything is hollow.”

Jemma Dugdale, a survivor, said: “This tragedy happened because of poor decision making of people who did not have the skills knowledge or expertise.”

Another survivor, Gemma Cox, said it turned her world upside down and the pain “became unbearable”.

She said Lloyd had shown remorse to her and her children, adding: “I have seen her suffering day after day for the decisions and mistakes that were made.”

Melody Johns said losing her sister-in-law, Andrea Powell, was “incomprehensible”.