Woman charged with manslaughter following deaths of four paddleboarders

A woman has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter following the deaths of four people in a paddleboarding incident.

Nerys Bethan Lloyd, 39, from Aberavon, has also been charged with one offence under the Health and Safety at Work Act, Dyfed-Powys Police said.

The charges relate to an incident on the River Cleddau in Pembrokeshire on October 30 2021, which resulted in the deaths of Paul O’Dwyer, 42, Andrea Powell, 41, Morgan Rogers, 24, and Nicola Wheatley, 40.

In distress

Police received a call at 9.02am on that day, stating there were a number of paddleboarders in distress at the weir on the river in the centre of Haverfordwest.

Emergency services attended the scene, where Mr O’Dwyer, from Port Talbot, Ms Rogers, from Merthyr Tydfil, and Ms Wheatley, from Swansea, were declared dead.

Ms Powell, from Bridgend, was taken to nearby Withybush Hospital but died six days later.

Four other people survived the incident.

A spokeswoman for Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed that Lloyd would appear before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on December 3.

Investigation

Detective Superintendent Cameron Ritchie, of the force, said: “Following a lengthy and complex investigation, working closely with the Health and Safety Executive and the Crown Prosecution Service, Nerys Lloyd has today been charged with four counts of gross negligence manslaughter and one count under the Health and Safety At Work Act.

“The families of those who died and those who survived the incident have all been informed.

“As criminal proceedings are now under way it is important that there is no reporting, commentary or online posting that could prejudice this case.”

Rosemary Ainslie, head of the CPS Special Crime Division, said: “We have authorised Dyfed Powys Police to charge Nerys Lloyd, 39, with four counts of gross negligence manslaughter and one health and safety offence following the deaths of four paddleboarders in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, in 2021.

“The charges relate to a commercial paddleboarding river tour on October 30 2021, where four of the group became trapped in Haverfordwest town weir and tragically lost their lives.

“The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against the defendant are active and that she has the right to a fair trial.

“It is extremely important there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”