A former paddleboard company owner has made an appearance in court regarding the tragic deaths of four individuals who were paddleboarding on the River Cleddau in Haverfordwest last October. Nerys Lloyd is facing charges of four counts of gross negligence manslaughter and a violation under the Health and Safety at Work Act. The incident resulted in the loss of Morgan Rogers, Paul O’Dwyer, Nicola Wheatley, and Andrea Powell. As the previous proprietor of Salty Dog, the firm overseeing the activity, Lloyd was present at Swansea Crown Court on Tuesday, represented by her barrister Owen Williams. During the proceedings, Williams requested that Lloyd not enter a plea and shared that efforts to secure legal aid had been denied, with a new application in progress.
Judge Paul Thomas KC expressed the importance of expediting the case for all parties involved and aimed to schedule a trial for the fall of 2025 if necessary. He mentioned that a potential trial would likely be presided over by a High Court judge. The court session was adjourned until January 21 to allow time for funding arrangements, with Judge Thomas expressing regret that more progress could not be made at the time. Nerys Bethan Lloyd, residing in Jersey Quay, Aberavon, Port Talbot, was granted unconditional bail until the next court session. Among the victims, Mr. O’Dwyer of Port Talbot, Ms. Rogers of Merthyr Tydfil, Ms. Wheatley of Pontarddulais, and Ms. Powell of Bridgend lost their lives either at the scene or in the days following the tragic incident.
The court appearance of Nerys Lloyd, the ex-owner of Salty Dog, pertains to the loss of four individuals during a paddleboarding expedition on the River Cleddau in Haverfordwest last October. The victims identified as Morgan Rogers, Paul O’Dwyer, Nicola Wheatley, and Andrea Powell tragically did not survive the incident. Lloyd is facing allegations of gross negligence manslaughter and a breach of the Health and Safety at Work Act. At Swansea Crown Court, Lloyd’s barrister Owen Williams requested to defer the plea and shared that attempts to secure legal aid had faced setbacks. A trial, if required, is anticipated to take place in the autumn of 2025, potentially overseen by a High Court judge. The case has been adjourned until January 21 to facilitate funding arrangements, with the judge expressing apologies for the delay in progress. Lloyd, residing in Jersey Quay, Aberavon, Port Talbot, remains on unconditional bail until the next court hearing. The victims, including Mr. O’Dwyer, Ms. Rogers, Ms. Wheatley, and Ms. Powell, tragically lost their lives during or following the incident on the River Cleddau last year.
Nerys Lloyd, the former owner of Salty Dog, made a recent court appearance in connection with the deaths of four individuals during a paddleboarding excursion on the River Cleddau in Haverfordwest last October. The victims, identified as Morgan Rogers, Paul O’Dwyer, Nicola Wheatley, and Andrea Powell, did not survive the tragic incident. Lloyd faces charges of gross negligence manslaughter and a violation of the Health and Safety at Work Act. At Swansea Crown Court, her barrister, Owen Williams, requested a deferment of plea due to issues with securing legal aid. Judge Paul Thomas KC expressed the urgency to move the case forward, aiming for a potential trial in the autumn of 2025, potentially presided over by a High Court judge. The court proceedings were adjourned to January 21 to allow time for funding arrangements, with Lloyd remaining on unconditional bail. The victims, including Mr. O’Dwyer, Ms. Rogers, Ms. Wheatley, and Ms. Powell, tragically lost their lives either at the scene or in the days following the River Cleddau incident.