A former police officer who ran a paddleboarding company has been jailed for 10 years and six months after four people drowned during an excursion on a river in south-west Wales.
Nerys Bethan Lloyd organised a stand-up paddleboarding tour on the River Cleddau in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, in October 2021 despite “extremely hazardous conditions” and weather warnings in place.
Lloyd failed to warn the group about a weir on the route or how to navigate it.
The participants were swept over, with some becoming trapped under the fast-moving water.
Paul O’Dwyer, 42, Andrea Powell, 41, Morgan Rogers, 24, and Nicola Wheatley, 40, all died.
Lloyd, 39, from Aberavon, south Wales, was the owner and sole director of Salty Dog Co Ltd, which organised the tour.
She pleaded guilty to four counts of gross negligence manslaughter and one offence under the Health and Safety at Work Act in March, and was sentenced by Mrs Justice Dame Mary Stacey at Swansea Crown Court on Wednesday.
Mark Watson KC, for the prosecution, told the court on Tuesday that Lloyd and Mr O’Dwyer, who helped act as an instructor, were “not remotely qualified” and that the stretch of river had a “real potential for danger”.
David Elias KC, for the defence, quoted a statement written by Lloyd to the court on Wednesday.
He said: “I take full blame (for the incident) that meant four extremely special individuals are not here today.
“The pain for me has been unbearable but the pain for the families unmeasurable.
“There were nine people on the river that day and every one of them is a victim.”
Darren Wheatley, husband of Nicola Wheatley, said the loss of his wife has “devastated” the family.
In a statement read outside court, Mr Wheatley said: “Losing Nicola has devastated our family and two young children lost their mammy.
“Nicola died in circumstances that were completely avoidable and should not have happened. Decisions made by Nerys Lloyd, and only Nerys Lloyd, led to the four lives lost.
“Any sentence served by Nerys in prison will never ease the pain of losing Nicola, and our lives will never be the same again.”
He added: “I hope Nerys takes the time whilst locked up to reflect and finally acknowledge the devastating impact of her decisions that day.
“I'm grateful for the judge's understanding of the gravity of what happened and what we have gone through as families.”
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