A PADDLEBOARD tour company owner has appeared in court charged in connection with the deaths of four people in Haverfordwest in 2021.
Nerys Bethan Lloyd, 39, from Aberavon, appeared at Swansea Crown Court accused of four counts of gross negligence manslaughter and one offence under the Health and Safety at Work Act.
The charges relate to an incident on the River Cleddau on October 30, 2021, which resulted in the deaths of Paul O’Dwyer, 42; Andrea Powell, 41; Morgan Rogers, 24; and Nicola Wheatley, 40.
Lloyd was the owner and sole director of Salty Dog Co Ltd, which organised the paddleboarding tour. There were four survivors of the incident.
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The case came before the court for Lloyd to enter her pleas, however defence counsel Owen Williams said that the defendant’s application for legal aid funding had twice been rejected.
Mr Williams asked for the case to be adjourned as a third application had been submitted.
Judge Paul Thomas KC granted the application to adjourn the case, but warned that Lloyd may have to prepare to privately fund her legal fees if this latest application is rejected.
“It is in no-one’s interest for this to drag on,” he said. “Everyone wants finality.”
“I would like to reassure your honour that all options are being discussed,” Mr Williams replied.
The case was adjourned until January 21 for an update on the legal aid application, and a new date for Lloyd to enter her pleas will then be set.
Lloyd was re-admitted to unconditional bail.
Dyfed-Powys Police received a call at 9.02am on October 30, 2021, stating there were a number of paddleboarders in distress at the weir in the centre of Haverfordwest.
Emergency services attended the scene, where Mr O’Dwyer, from Port Talbot, Ms Rogers, from Merthyr Tydfil, and Ms Wheatley, from Swansea, were declared dead.
Ms Powell, from Bridgend, was taken to nearby Withybush Hospital, but died six days later.
Lloyd was charged with five offences relating to the incident on October 4, 2024.
“This case concerns a most tragic incident where four people lost their lives in a paddleboarding excursion organised by the defendant,” the prosecution told the court.
Rosemary Ainslie, head of the Crown Prosecution Service special crime division, said: “The charges relate to a commercial paddleboarding river tour on October 30, 2021, where four of the group became trapped in Haverfordwest town weir and tragically lost their lives.
“The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against the defendant are active and that she has the right to a fair trial.
“It is extremely important there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”
