The sentencing hearing continues this week into the death of four paddleboarders in Pembrokeshire, who tragically lost their lives during an organised tour in 2021.

Thirty-nine-year-old former police officer Nerys Lloyd, who was the owner and sole director of Salty Dog Co Ltd, pleaded guilty at Swansea Crown Court at a hearing on March 5 to the gross negligence manslaughter of Paul O’Dwyer, 42, Andrea Powell, 41, Morgan Rogers, 24, and Nicola Wheatley, 40, following their deaths in Haverfordwest Town Weir on October 30, 2021.

Lloyd of Aberavon, Port Talbot, also pleaded guilty to a Health and Safety at Work Act offence at Swansea Crown Court.

The tragic incident occurred on the River Cleddau in Haverfordwest.

At around 9 am on Saturday, October 30 the group of nine stand up paddleboarders on the commercial river tour from Haverfordwest to Burton Ferry, descended Haverfordwest Town Weir.

The four victims were part of a Stand Up Paddle (SUP) paddleboarding tour – organised by Salty Dog Co Ltd – and Lloyd was present as an instructor on the day of the tragedy alongside fellow instructor Mr O’Dwyer, who was killed.

On the day of the incident, there had been heavy flooding and severe weather warnings were in place. The river was running fast, and the weir was in an extremely hazardous condition.

As the group approached the weir, the three participants were pulled over the top into its base and became trapped.

Instructor Mr O’Dwyer, who initially exited the river safely, re-entered the water in an attempt to rescue the others but was immediately dragged over the top. The four victims died as a result of drowning/immersion.

An expert concluded that the tour should not have taken place while encompassing the weir and that Lloyd did not have a suitable qualification, and her planning and supervision was inadequate.

The prosecution followed a joint investigation by Dyfed-Powys Police and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

At the hearing at Swansea Crown Court on Tuesday, April 22, Mark Watson KC, prosecuting, told the court there had been heavy rain in the days before and "the river was in flood conditions" with a "visibly strong current".

"Of the eight individuals who went over the weir that day only four survived," he said.

Mr Watson explained there were desperate attempts of "bystanders who tried to throw lifelines into the weir".

The court heard the intensity of the water that day "was the equivalent of two tons of water crossing the 1m of the weir crest every second".

The weather conditions meant the difference between water levels above and below the weir on that day would have been "a drop of 1.3m".

The court was shown photos of the weir including the section between the right and left crest called the fish pass, which the group were trying to navigate.

The court was also shown conditions at the weir on the day after the incident.

Mr Watson explained it showed "immense turbulence" of the water which "obscures the wall to the fish pass" from above.

Theresa Hall, mother of Morgan Rogers, told the court Morgan's loss follows her like a shadow.

She said Lloyd "guided Morgan to her death" and the "physical and mental pain that I now live with is too much to bear".

Breaking down in tears, she told Lloyd she would never forgive her "for what you have taken away from me".

Darren Wheatley, husband of Nicola Wheatley, called Lloyd "a coward" and "a disgraced business owner".

With audible anger in his voice he said while they "cried all day" that Christmas in 2021 without their mother, Lloyd was posting pictures on social media celebrating Christmas lights with her family and friends.

Mark Powell, the husband of Andrea Powell broke down in tears when he explained the last time he saw Andrea "happy and content" was the day before the incident when they said goodbye as she left for the trip to Haverfordwest.

He then saw Andrea in Withybush hospital in the town where she was in coma.

Mr Watson explained there was an "obvious potential for real danger".

He told the court several members of the group had very limited experience.

Adding that both Lloyd and her business partner Paul O'Dwyer were "not remotely qualified", as they only had a "basic entry level qualification" which was not suitable for the tour they led.

He explained the pair "briefly stopped in the town centre to inspect the river" that day but "did not inspect the weir itself", adding they knew there was a weir on that stretch of river having paddleboarded there in August.

The court heard an advert for the trip said it was run by "two fully qualified instructors".

Paul O'Dwyer and Lloyd carried out two courses on 23 and 24 April 2021.

Mr Watson said it was "clear from the promotional material for the courses" it was not enough for the trip they ran with the group that day.

Lloyd had first aid training from both South Wales Police and as part of the RNLI.

A statement from Ceri O'Dwyer, wife of Paul O'Dwyer was read on her behalf. She said she is "tortured" by what happened that day.

Addressing Lloyd, she said that she was once her friend but was met with "blame, rejection and gaslighting" by Ms Lloyd when she tried to "shift blame" on to Paul.

Paul made a "devastating mistake" but he "died trying to save others" saying that was the type of man he was.

The sentencing hearing continues today (April 23) at 10.30am.