Paddleboard Guide Jailed 10 Years After Four Deaths in Pembrokeshire

Nerys Bethan Lloyd, owner of a Welsh paddleboarding business and former police officer, was sentenced to 10 years and 6 months in prison for gross negligence manslaughter after leading a group of beginners into dangerous waters on the River Cleddau in 2021, resulting in four deaths. Despite severe weather warnings and fast-moving floodwaters, Lloyd failed to provide a safety briefing, did not warn the group about a hazardous weir, and ignored suggestions for safer routes. The group, many of whom lacked appropriate safety equipment, was swept over the weir, with four people—including a co-instructor—drowning. The judge condemned Lloyd for her 'wholesale failure' to consider safety, describing her actions as reckless and avoidable. Survivors and families of the victims described the devastating and lasting impact of the tragedy. The court emphasized that Lloyd's incompetence and disregard for basic safety measures deprived participants of the chance to make informed decisions, hoping the sentencing would offer some sense of justice and lead to better safety practices in the future.