An ex-police officer jailed for leading a paddleboarding excursion in Haverfordwest under ‘extremely hazardous conditions’ - which caused the deaths of four people, has lost a Court of Appeal bid to challenge her prison sentence.

Paddleboard business owner thirty-nine-year-old Nerys Lloyd was jailed in April of last year for 10 years and 6 months for gross negligence manslaughter following the deaths of four people in 2021 in Pembrokeshire.

Lloyd, from Aberavon, who was the owner and sole director of Salty Dog Co Ltd, was charged with the gross negligence manslaughter of Paul O’Dwyer, 42, Andrea Powell, 41, Morgan Rogers, 24, and Nicola Wheatley, 40, following their tragic deaths following the incident in Haverfordwest Town Weir on 30 October 2021.

She admitted all four charges on March 5, 2025, along with one count under the Health and Safety at Work Act, and was jailed the following month.

At Lloyd’s sentencing, the court heard how on October 30, 2021, she with the assistance of Paul O’Dwyer planned a trip organised through Lloyd’s own business.

Nerys Lloyd Tenby
After the tragedy that saw four people lose their lives during a paddleboarding trip in Haverfordwest - Nerys Lloyd continued to lead a full life following the incident on October 30, 2021, much to the disgust of those that lost their loved ones. The former police officer even returned to Pembrokeshire in 2023 to take on the Ironman Wales sporting triathlon in Tenby. (Facebook)

However, there had been heavy flooding, and severe weather warnings were in place, which were not heeded by Lloyd. The river was running fast, and the weir was in an extremely hazardous condition, leading up to the tragedy.

A joint investigation by Dyfed-Powys Police and HSE found that Lloyd was not correctly qualified to lead a stand-up paddle board river tour.

Three Appeal Court judges have now rejected David Elias KC's submissions that the sentence was "manifestly excessive".

Lady Justice May, Mr Justice Martin Spencer and Judge Martin Picton refused the bid to bring an appeal.

May stated: "It is not arguable that a sentence of 10 years and six months was manifestly excessive," adding the sentencing judge "clearly had all the mitigating features in mind".