Tragedy on the River Cleddau: Families Accuse Paddleboarding Guide of Arrogance
A former police officer who led a paddleboarding tour on a swollen river in south-west Wales, resulting in the deaths of four people, has been accused by relatives of the victims of being arrogant and lacking remorse. Nerys Lloyd, 39, is being sentenced at Swansea Crown Court after admitting four counts of gross negligence manslaughter and a Health and Safety at Work Act offence.
According to The Guardian, Lloyd guided the group on the River Cleddau in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, despite the hazardous conditions and her limited qualifications. The river was in flood condition with a strong current, and the group was not adequately prepared for the risks they faced. The prosecutor, Mark Watson KC, told the court that the conditions were clearly dangerous, with a narrow fish ramp in the centre of the weir that was only slightly wider than the width of a paddleboard.
The court heard that Lloyd and her co-instructor, Paul O’Dwyer, a former soldier, had undertaken a basic paddleboard instructor’s course earlier in the year. However, this qualification was not sufficient for leading a tour on a river in spate with hazards such as a weir. The current propelled the group down the river, and Lloyd managed to get through the fish ramp, but the others were swept over the weir and fell off their boards.
The victims were Morgan Rogers, 24, Nicola Wheatley, 40, Andrea Powell, 41, and O’Dwyer, 42. Their families have expressed their grief and anger at Lloyd’s actions, with some describing her as arrogant and deceitful. Mark Powell, the husband of Andrea Powell, said in a victim personal statement that Lloyd’s failings were on a "monumental scale" and that he had detected no remorse from her.
Teresa Hall, the mother of Morgan Rogers, told Lloyd: "You guided Morgan to her death." She said she thought about her daughter "gagging" for breath and that she had confidence in Lloyd as a leader. Gemma Cox, a survivor of the tragedy, described the experience of going over the weir and trying to save her friends. She said: "I have remembered every day the feeling I had when I went over that weir. Having to jump over the edge not knowing what would happen when I hit the water. Not a day goes by without remembering what it felt to pull Morgan on to my board and trying to bring her back."
The tragedy has highlighted the need for stronger regulation of the sport, with many calling for changes to prevent such a tragedy happening again. Melody Johns, another survivor, said: "Paddleboarding is largely unregulated and boards are still being sold without quick release leashes that can save lives. Many people are continuing to buy boards without much thought about safety. Something needs to change." Jemma Dugdale, a third survivor, said sporting bodies, including Paddle UK, Paddle Cymru, Sport England, and Sport Wales, needed to do more to prevent such a tragedy happening again.
As reported by The Guardian, Lloyd was suspended from South Wales police at the time of the tragedy after accepting a caution for a fraudulent insurance claim involving a vehicle. She had advertised the River Cleddau trip on Facebook for £149 a person, including overnight accommodation and supervision by two "fully" qualified instructors. However, the court heard that Lloyd did not carry out risk assessments or obtain next of kin details for the victims, leading to a delay in contacting family members.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, Lloyd said: "It’s my fault 100%. I just turned around and they all fell over." The sentencing hearing will conclude on Wednesday, and it is expected that Lloyd will face significant punishment for her role in the deaths of the four people.
This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of proper regulation and safety measures in adventure sports. As The Guardian continues to report, the paddleboarding industry is largely unregulated, and more needs to be done to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.
According to The Guardian, the families of the victims are still coming to terms with the loss of their loved ones and are seeking justice for their deaths. The case highlights the need for greater accountability and safety measures in the sport, and it is hoped that this tragedy will lead to changes that will prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
The authorities and regulatory bodies will be under scrutiny as this story continues to unfold, with many questions being asked about how this tragedy was allowed to occur. One thing is certain: the death of four people on the River Cleddau will have a lasting impact on the sport of paddleboarding and the community that surrounds it.
