Haverfordwest paddleboarder deaths 'tragic and avoidable'

The deaths of 4 radical connected a paddleboarding travel was "tragic and avoidable", a study has said.

The organisation of the travel connected the River Cleddau connected 30 October 2021 was powerfully criticised by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB).

Paul O'Dwyer, 42, Morgan Rogers, 24, Nicola Wheatley, 40, and Andrea Powell, 41, each died arsenic a effect of the travel successful Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire.

Mr O'Dwyer, from Port Talbot, Mr Rogers, from Merthyr Tydfil, and Ms Wheatley, of Pontarddulais, each died astatine the country successful Pembrokeshire.

Ms Powell, from Bridgend, died successful infirmary connected 5 November 2021.

MAIB main inspector Alan Moll has present said the mishap was "tragic and avoidable".

Mr O'Dwyer, an Army veteran, was 1 of the leaders of the excursion, organised by the Salty Dog Company of Port Talbot, and was travelling astatine the rear of the group.

The different leader, the Salty Dog Company owner, survived but is not being named for ineligible reasons.

Nine paddleboarders acceptable disconnected astatine astir 09:00 - determination were 2 leaders, the woman of 1 of the leaders and six paying participants.

Four paddleboarders got into difficulties astatine a weir connected the occidental Cleddau, extracurricular County Hall.

They were trapped by "hydraulic towback, with nary means of escape," the study stated.

Although the leaders of the radical were experienced paddleboarders, they had "no acquisition to thatch novices connected fast-flowing rivers".

The MAIB said the leaders' readying and mentation was inadequate and overlooked the utmost hazard posed by the weir.

They did not person capable training, acquisition oregon qualifications to pb the radical from Haverfordwest to Burton Ferry.

Signs astatine the motorboat tract and connected the stream were said to beryllium inadequate, on with covering and buoyancy aids.

The MAIB besides criticised UK stand-up paddleboarding, saying information messaging and grooming governance was inconsistent.

Several information recommendations person been made by the authors of the report, including hazard assessments from Pembrokeshire assembly and Milford Haven Port Authority, and reviewed governance of the athletics from the UK National Sports Council.

Ch Insp Moll said stand-up paddleboarding was 1 of the "fastest-growing UK watersports", with a 300% summation successful numbers successful caller years and urged participants to beryllium alert of the risks.

"Firstly, deterioration the close equipment. Always deterioration a buoyancy aid," helium said.

"In definite conditions, weirs tin make treacherous hydraulic towbacks that tin trap and drown you."

After the deaths connected the Cleddau, a pistillate was arrested connected suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter and released. Prosecutors are inactive considering whether charges volition beryllium brought.

Pembrokeshire assembly said it had taken further steps, up of receipt of the MAIB last report, by putting up much informing signs connected the banks of the stream upstream from the weir.

"Along with different organisations, the assembly has made itself disposable to assistance Dwr Cymru Welsh Water, which owns and is liable for the weir, successful mentation of the hazard appraisal which was the proposal from the MAIB.

"The substance remains successful the hands of HM Senior Coroner for Pembrokeshire and an inquest volition beryllium held successful owed course. It would beryllium inappropriate to remark further pending that process."