A woman has been charged with four counts of manslaughter following the deaths of a group of paddle boarders. Nerys Bethan Lloyd, 39, is due to appear in court over the tragic event on the River Cleddau in Pembrokeshire, Wales, three years ago.
Paul O’Dwyer, Andrea Powell, Morgan Rogers and Nicola Wheatley all lost their lives in the incident on Saturday, October 30, 2021, with four other people surviving, reports Wales Online.
Dyfed Powys Police confirmed today that Lloyd, from Aberavon, had been charged with four counts of gross negligence manslaughter and one offence under the Health and Safety at Work Act. She will appear at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court on December 3.
Detective Superintendent Cameron Ritchie, senior investigating officer, said: “Following a lengthy and complex investigation, working closely with the Health and Safety Executive and the Crown Prosecution Service, Nerys Lloyd has today been charged with four counts of gross negligence manslaughter and 1 count under the Health and Safety At Work Act.
He added: “The families of those who died and those who survived the incident have all been informed. As criminal proceedings are now underway it is important that there is no reporting, commentary or online posting that could prejudice this case.”
Mr O’Dwyer, from Port Talbot, Ms Rogers, from Merthyr Tydfil, and Ms Wheatley, of Pontarddulais, all tragically lost their lives at the scene in Pembrokeshire. Ms Powell, from Bridgend, passed away in hospital on November 5, 2021.
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