Mark Watson KC prosecutes as paddleboard tour guide pleads guilty to four counts of manslaughter

At a hearing today at Swansea Crown Court before Mrs Justice Stacey, paddleborad tour guide and ex-police officer Nerys Lloyd pleaded guilty to four counts of gross negligence manslaughter.

At the time of the offences the defendant operated a company which organised paddleboarding tours.  Despite heavy flooding and severe weather conditions, on 31 October 2021 she led a party of paddleboarders down the River Cleddau.  Andrea Powell, Morgan Rogers and Nicola Wheatley tragically drowned after they became trapped in turbulent and extremely hazardous water conditions below a weir on the river.  Paul O’Dwyer, another guide on the trip, also lost his life when he attempted a rescue of the trapped participants.

Mark Watson KC is instructed by CPS Special Crime Division following a joint investigation by Dyfed-Powys Police and the Health and Safety Executive.

The sentencing hearing has been adjourned to 15 April 2025 at Swansea Crown Court.

Further details of the case are reported here … https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c241vmzm6gmo