Four years after a devastating paddleboarding accident in Pembrokeshire, a grieving mother has opened up about the anguish and fury she still feels over the death of her only daughter.
Teresa Hall described the unimaginable pain of losing Morgan Rogers, 24, in a tragedy that also claimed the lives of Nicola Wheatley, 40, Andrea Powell, 41, and Paul O’Dwyer, 42.
“I can’t even describe the anger,” Ms. Hall told reporters.
“I am in torture… no parent should ever have to bury their child for something so completely unnecessary.”
The Fatal Paddleboarding Tour
The victims had been participating in a stand-up paddleboarding tour led by Nerys Lloyd, 39, a former police officer and owner of Salty Dog Co Ltd.
Lloyd was later sentenced to ten years and six months in prison after being convicted of gross negligence manslaughter.
Tragically, Morgan, Nicola, and Paul died at the scene, while Andrea survived the initial incident but succumbed to her injuries six days later.
The Moment News Arrived
Ms. Hall recalled the moment police arrived at her home to deliver the shattering news that her daughter was among the victims.
“I just remember going over to her and shaking her, trying to wake her up… this couldn’t have happened. How could this have happened?” she said.
Even now, she says, she replays their last conversation in her mind, wishing she had urged Morgan not to go on the tour.
Families Shattered by Loss
For widower Darren Wheatley from Swansea, the tragedy ripped his family apart.
His wife, Nicola, a devoted mother of two and dental hygienist, had joined the paddleboarding trip for what she expected to be a fun weekend adventure.
Speaking on the fourth anniversary, he described the harrowing moment he had to identify Nicola’s body while their seven-year-old son, Oscar, waited nearby. “I won’t forget the look on his face,” he said.
“She’s destroyed my family life, she’s destroyed my children’s family life… their mother will never come back.”
Ignoring Warnings and Safety Risks
Investigators found that Lloyd pressed ahead with the paddleboarding tour despite official weather warnings.
She reassured participants that conditions were safe, a decision later described as “reckless” and “wholly avoidable.”
Lloyd and co-instructor Paul O’Dwyer had inspected the river before the tour, yet Lloyd instructed the group to follow her over a weir and “keep to the centre.”
Kneeling on her board, she descended a fish pass and was swept downriver, followed by the others.
The violent currents created a “hydraulic jump,” a spinning flow that trapped the victims beneath the water.
Desperate Rescue Efforts
Paul O’Dwyer, realizing something was wrong from the back of the group, went ashore and then leapt into the river in an attempt to help.
Tragically, he too was swept over the weir and killed.
Passers-by quickly raised the alarm, tossing lifebuoys into the river as emergency services raced to the scene.
Rescue teams, including the coastguard, RNLI, police, and fire crews, worked tirelessly to save the group.
Andrea Powell was rescued but later died from her injuries.
The bodies of Nicola and Morgan were recovered by fellow paddleboarders, while Paul’s body was found downstream by a coastguard helicopter.
Preventable Tragedy and Accountability
The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) concluded the deaths were entirely preventable, citing a “catalogue of errors” in Lloyd’s decision-making and her disregard for safety protocols.
During her trial, the judge condemned her approach to health and safety as “abysmal,” accusing her of arrogance and complacency in the face of clear danger.
The tragedy remains a stark reminder of the importance of proper safety measures, responsible leadership, and the devastating consequences of negligence.