A former policewoman who has today been sent to prison for more than 10 years for killing four people who drowned on a paddleboarding tour she organised, accidentally recorded herself admitting blame.
Nerys Lloyd, who ran Salty Dog Co Ltd, led three women Andrea Powell, 41, Morgan Rogers, 24 and Nicola Wheatley, 40, and a man, Paul O’Dwyer, into a dangerous weir, where they all drowned. The court heard today that in a conversation inadvertently recorded on her phone hours after the incident she admitted that that she was “finished”.
Mrs Justice Stacey told the 39-year-old former firearms officer: “In a conversation with your wife, you told her it was 100% your fault and you probably should not have gone on the water.” However the judge said Lloyd blamed Mr O’Dwyer, who helped act as an instructor, in the aftermath of the incident and claimed all those taking part were of intermediate ability.
“It is clear to me that you intended for the group to go through the weir,” the judge said. “Paul had researched alternative routes that would avoid crossing the weir, all of which were dismissed by you. He raised valid concerns that you ignored. Your interest appeared to be more of an exciting route rather than safety.”
During sentencing the judge, Mrs Justice Stacey, told Lloyd that she had watched CCTV footage of the incident, which she described as “too distressing” to play in court. There were four survivors of the incident, and four people died.
Swansea Crown Court heard Lloyd acted as the instructor as the group approached the weir, three participants were pulled over the top and became trapped. Mr O’Dwyer, who initially got out of the river safely, re-entered in an attempt to rescue the others, but was immediately dragged over the weir.
Mark Watson KC, speaking for the prosecution, told the court that Lloyd and Mr O’Dwyer were “not remotely qualified” and that the stretch of river had a “real potential for danger”. Although they had undertaken a course earlier in the year, this was a basic, entry-level course,” he said.
He said the group had set off shortly before 9am despite the recent heavy rain and weather warnings being in place. Mr Watson KC said none of the victims was aware of the weir or how to navigate it. Because of the heavy rain, around “two tonnes of water” were crossing a one-metre section of the weir every second.
Mr Watson added: “It was known to the defendant and Paul that there was a large weir in the town centre of Haverfordwest which spanned the width of the river, because they had paddled over it in August 2021.
“The weir had a narrow fish ramp at its centre, which was only slightly wider than the width of a paddleboard. Save for that ramp, the entire face of the weir dropped sharply down to the river below.”
Damning text messages between the defendant and Mr O’Dwyer show he had suggested an alternative route in Milford Haven but had been “rebuffed” by Lloyd. She went ahead of the group and safely made it down the fish ramp. When the participants followed her, they were swept over the weir, where some became trapped.
Lloyd was today sentenced to 10 years and six months for four counts of gross negligence manslaughter and one offence under the Health and Safety at Work Act, after pleading guilty and an earlier hearing.
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