A paddleboard tour firm proprietor has admitted to gross negligence manslaughter after the deaths of 4 folks.
Paul O’Dwyer, Andrea Powell, Morgan Rogers and Nicola Wheatley died whereas paddleboarding on the River Cleddau, in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, in October 2021.
Nerys Bethan Lloyd, 39, a former police officer from Port Talbot, is the previous proprietor of Salty Canine, the corporate working the tour that the 4, and 4 others who survived, have been taking.
The corporate has since been dissolved.
At Swansea Crown Courtroom on Wednesday, she additionally pleaded responsible to 1 offence beneath the Well being and Security at Work Act.
The case was beforehand delayed as a result of “a difficulty with authorized help”.
Lloyd will stay on bail till her sentencing in April.
Following the plea listening to, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) stated the paddleboard tour on 30 October 2021 occurred regardless of “heavy flooding and extreme climate warnings” being in place.
It added “the river was working quick and the weir was in a particularly hazardous situation”, and three of the members turned trapped after being pulled excessive of the Haverfordwest City Weir.
Mr O’Dwyer, who was an teacher on the tour, initially exited the river safely, however then re-entered the water in an try to rescue the others.
The 4 victims died as a result of drowning.
The CPS added Lloyd didn’t have an appropriate qualification, and her planning and supervision was insufficient, with the prosecution following a joint investigation by Dyfed-Powys Police and the Well being and Security Government (HSE).
Lisa Rose, specialist prosecutor with the CPS particular crime division, added it was “an avoidable tragedy”.
“Regardless of going to test the state of the river earlier than departing on the tour, Nerys Lloyd failed to examine the weir,” she stated.
“The vast majority of members had restricted expertise, and Lloyd was not certified to take paddleboarders out in such hazardous situations.
“There was no security briefing or formal danger assessments, and the members weren’t suggested that they might be traversing a weir or instructed on choices to get out of the water.
“Remaining choices to proceed with the occasion have been Lloyd’s determination, and because of this she held full and whole accountability.
“I hope these convictions present some sense of justice for these affected and our ideas stay with the households and pals of the victims right now.”
