In a tragic incident that unfolded on October 30, 2021, a paddleboarding adventure on the River Cleddau in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, turned fatal, leading to the deaths of four individuals. During the ongoing court proceedings, it was alleged that a tour company owner directed a participant towards a path that ultimately led to her demise.
The unfortunate victims were identified as Paul O’Dwyer, 42, Andrea Powell, 41, Morgan Rogers, 24, and Nicola Wheatley, 40. Their deaths occurred in what was classified as “extremely hazardous conditions.” Nerys Bethan Lloyd, 39, the former owner of Salty Dog, the now-defunct company responsible for the tour, admitted last month to manslaughter due to her lack of qualifications to conduct the tour effectively and safely.
On the day of this ill-fated excursion, a group comprising seven participants and instructor Paul O’Dwyer commenced their paddleboarding journey shortly after 9 AM. The court heard testimony that prior heavy rains had led to flooding conditions in the river, resulting in a notably strong current. Legal representatives informed the court that of the eight individuals involved that day, only four managed to survive.
Efforts from bystanders to save those caught in perilous conditions proved desperate, with multiple attempts to throw lifelines into the weir. The ferocity of the water on that day was described as equivalent to two tons of water flowing over the weir every second, a detail that underscored the inherent risks faced by the group. Furthermore, the variance in water levels on that fateful day was noted to create a perilous drop of 1.3 meters from above the weir to below.
The emotional testimonies delivered in court highlighted the profound and lasting impact of this tragedy on the victims’ families. In poignant statements, Theresa Hall, the mother of Morgan Rogers, expressed how the loss of her daughter shadows her existence. She accused Lloyd of guiding her child to her death, revealing the immense physical and emotional toll the ordeal has taken on her life. “You in your arrogance have stopped me from being able to fully grieve for my daughter,” she stated, exhibiting heartbreaking grief and anger directed towards Lloyd.
Similarly overwhelming sentiments were conveyed by Robert Rogers, Morgan’s father, who described how his daughter’s vibrant spirit had been extinguished and lamented the sorrow of having to bury his own child. He emphasized, “My family will have a life sentence of grief for our remaining days,” reflecting on the profound pain caused by the loss. Darren Wheatley, husband of Nicola Wheatley, called Lloyd a “coward” for her actions, articulating the devastation left in the wake of the incident. “I hugged and kissed Nicola goodbye… The next time I would see her would be to identify her body in the mortuary,” he spoke of the heartbreak of his final interactions with his wife.
Mark Powell, Andrea Powell’s husband, shared his grief over the lost connection with his wife. The last memory he had was of her smiling face before departing for the trip, only to later witness her fighting for life in a hospital. The heartbreaking detail of watching their seven-year-old son express a desire to “die so he can be with his mother again” outlines the generational trauma and emotional scars left by the tragedy.
Prosecuting attorney Mark Watson KC highlighted the clear risks involved in the paddleboarding trip, stating that many participants possessed limited experience. Lloyd and her business partner, Paul O’Dwyer, were noted to have only basic qualifications, unsuitable for the nature of the adventure they were leading, demonstrating a critical lack of oversight and judgment.
The intertwined narratives of loss, anger, and the quest for justice create a compelling yet somber reflection on the event’s impact. Emotional testimonies have brought to light not only the individual losses experienced by each family but also the community’s grief as a whole. The court proceedings continue, focusing on accountability and learning from these devastating events to prevent future occurrences.
