What started as an adventurous paddleboarding weekend ended in heartbreak when four lives were lost on a flooded river in Wales.
Nerys Lloyd, a former police firearms officer turned paddleboarding instructor, led a group of eight on what was meant to be a relaxing group outing.
But as the weather turned dangerous, so did the river — and the decisions made that day had devastating consequences.
A Fatal Decision to Go Ahead
Despite flood alerts and warnings from the Met Office, Lloyd moved forward with the tour on the Cleddau River in Haverfordwest in October 2021.
She was running the event under her company, Salty Dog Co Ltd, and had advertised it as a fun weekend escape, even including overnight stays for participants at £149 per person.
Unfortunately, safety wasn’t part of the package.
The court heard that no health and safety briefing was given, and participants weren’t even informed about a dangerous weir on the route.
The Deadly Weir and Unforgiving Waters
The river was running high and fast, and the group was swept over a 1.3-meter drop — the weir — that created a vicious churning flow below.
The strong hydraulic effect acted like a washing machine, pulling victims under and making escape almost impossible.
Tragically, four people died: Morgan Rogers, 24; Nicola Wheatley, 40; Andrea Powell, 41; and co-instructor Paul O’Dwyer, 42.
Their leashes, meant for safety, only made things worse in the intense current.
Missed Warnings and Ignored Advice
Lloyd had been warned.
Weather alerts were issued, and even her fellow instructor, Paul O’Dwyer, had suggested changing the location.
But those concerns were brushed aside.
Instead of leading the group around the weir via a concrete platform — now submerged due to flooding — she went ahead.
The judge later ruled that she had made a conscious decision to go through the weir, not around it.
Aftermath and Accountability
Following the incident, Lloyd reportedly told her wife, “I’m going to jail for this,” shortly after discovering Paul O’Dwyer had died.
But in the days that followed, she shifted blame toward him, claiming he had taken charge of safety briefings while she was in a supermarket bathroom.
Survivors strongly refuted this, stating no safety instructions were ever given.
Heartbroken Families Speak Out
At the sentencing, grieving families delivered emotional statements, calling Lloyd “arrogant” and “cowardly” for showing no remorse.
They described how their lives had been shattered, how birthdays, holidays, and futures had been ripped away in a matter of seconds.
The judge acknowledged their pain, saying no sentence could truly capture the magnitude of their loss.
A Harsh Sentence, but Is It Enough?
Lloyd pleaded guilty to four counts of gross negligence manslaughter and an additional health and safety offence.
The court sentenced her to 10 years and 6 months in prison.
Justice Stacey made it clear: this wasn’t a tragic accident — it was a series of reckless choices.
Lloyd had only a basic instructor’s qualification and should never have led a tour under such hazardous conditions.
Lessons from a Preventable Tragedy
This heartbreaking event serves as a grim reminder of the responsibilities that come with leadership, especially in outdoor and adventure sports.
Simple precautions — checking weather reports, listening to expert advice, prioritizing safety over thrill — could have saved lives.
Prosecutors noted that the tour could have easily been postponed or rerouted, but Lloyd chose otherwise.
What’s Next?
For the families, justice may bring some closure, but the pain remains.
For the outdoor adventure community, this case is a call to tighten safety standards and ensure that leaders are fully qualified — not just in skill, but in judgment.