A FORMER cop has pleaded guilty to manslaughter following the deaths of four people in a paddleboarding tragedy.
Paul O’Dwyer, 42, Andrea Powell, 41, Morgan Rogers, 24, and Nicola Wheatley, 40, died after they got into difficulty on the River Cleddau, in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire.
Nerys Lloyd, 39, who owns Salty Dog – the company operating the tour – appeared at Swansea Crown Court today.
The former police officer pleaded guilty to four counts of gross negligence manslaughter and a Health and Safety at Work Act offence.
Nerys, who now works as an operations manager for a charity, had let the tour go ahead despite “severe weather warnings”.
The horror unfolded when the group of nine set out on the paddleboarding tour on October 30, 2021.
They got caught in heavy downpours just after 9am as emergency crews were raced to the scene.
Former soldier Paul was killed as he jumped into the water in a bid to save the women.
Mum Andrea, who worked as a dental therapist, was rushed to hospital with critical injuries but tragically couldn’t be saved.
Four other people on the paddleboarding trip survived the horror.
Morgan’s family paid tribute following the tragedy, saying she was the “best that she could be” and would be “sadly missed”.
While Nicola’s loved ones said said her death had “left a void in [their] lives that will never be filled”.
Nerys was released on bail ahead of sentencing on April 15.
