Paddleboarding tragedy results in 10.5-year sentence for Nerys Lloyd
- During a paddleboarding excursion on October 30, 2021, in Pembrokeshire, four people drowned due to poor conditions and lack of guidance.
- Nerys Bethan Lloyd, the paddleboard guide, was sentenced to 10.5 years for gross negligence manslaughter after the tragedy.
- This incident has prompted discussions on paddleboarding safety standards and the responsibilities of guides.
In October 2021, Nerys Bethan Lloyd, a 39-year-old paddleboard guide in the UK, led a group of four beginners on a treacherous paddleboarding trip during flood conditions on the River Cleddau in Haverfordwest. Despite heavy rains creating a dangerously strong current, Lloyd failed to warn her group of the impending danger, ultimately leading them toward a perilous weir. Tragically, several individuals were swept away by the turbulent waters during the incident, resulting in the drowning of Andrea Powell, Morgan Rogers, Nicola Wheatley, and Lloyd’s co-instructor, Paul O'Dwyer. The situation elicited outcries from the victims' families, who expressed their grief and anger during the subsequent legal proceedings, emphasizing the immense personal loss they endured due to the negligence of Lloyd. The prosecution highlighted that neither Lloyd nor O'Dwyer had appropriate qualifications to guide clients in such hazardous conditions, and their choices contributed to this heartbreaking tragedy. In court, several relatives shared statements detailing their devastation, recalling moments of their loved ones' last hours and the profound impact of the loss on their families. Ultimately, Lloyd was sentenced to 10.5 years in prison after pleading guilty to four counts of gross negligence manslaughter, marking the incident as one of the worst paddleboarding tragedies in British history. During sentencing, Justice Mary Stacey acknowledged Lloyd’s expression of sorrow but indicated that this was distinct from genuine remorse for the actions that led to the tragedy.