HSE | A paddleboard business owner has been jailed for 10 years and six months for gross negligence manslaughter following the deaths of four people in 2021.
Nerys Lloyd, 39, owner and sole director of Salty Dog Co Ltd, admitted gross negligence manslaughter for the deaths of four paddleboarders at Haverfordwest Town Weir on 30 October 2021. She and assistant Paul O’Dwyer led a trip despite heavy flooding, failed to check or brief participants on hazards, and did not inform them of the dangerous weir. All four victims drowned after being swept over the weir.
A joint investigation by Dyfed-Powys Police and HSE found Lloyd was unqualified to lead river tours and breached health and safety regulations by not assessing or managing obvious risks. HSE inspector Helen Turner and Detective Superintendent Cameron Ritchie offered condolences and emphasised that proper safety measures are essential to prevent such tragedies.
