Nerys Bethan Lloyd jailed over 4 paddleboarders’ deaths

A former paddleboarding company owner has been sentenced to 10 years and 6 months in prison following a tragic incident that claimed four lives in Wales. Nerys Bethan Lloyd, 39, admitted to gross negligence manslaughter last month after participants died during a tour she led in hazardous conditions.

On October 30, 2021, Lloyd and co-instructor Paul O’Dwyer took a group of seven paddleboarders onto the fast-flowing Western Cleddau River in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire. Despite heavy rainfall and flood conditions, the group attempted to navigate a dangerous weir with a strong current.

Four people—Paul O’Dwyer, Andrea Powell, Morgan Rogers, and Nicola Wheatley—died after being trapped in a violent water current. Powell succumbed to her injuries a week later in the hospital.

Swansea Crown Court heard that neither Lloyd nor O’Dwyer were qualified to lead such a tour. Judge Mrs. Justice Stacey condemned Lloyd’s “abysmal” disregard for safety, stating she prioritized an “exciting route” over basic precautions.

Key failures included:

• Using ankle leashes (dangerous in fast water)

• Ignoring safer alternative routes

• Failing to assess the weir’s extreme turbulence

Families of the victims delivered emotional statements in court:

• Morgan Rogers’ mother accused Lloyd of “guiding Morgan to her death.”

• Nicola Wheatley’s husband called Lloyd “a coward” for avoiding responsibility.

• Andrea Powell’s husband described their son’s heartbreak upon learning of his mother’s death.

• Paul O’Dwyer’s widow said he died heroically trying to save others but criticized Lloyd for shifting blame.

Mrs. Justice Stacey emphasized that while Lloyd did not intend harm, her reckless decisions led to “a very high risk of death.” She praised the victims’ families for their dignity amid unimaginable grief.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) called the tragedy “completely avoidable,” stressing the need for proper qualifications and risk assessments in adventure sports.