Four people dead and one arrested after paddleboarding incident in Haverfordwest, South Wales

Nine people who are thought to have got into difficult on a weekend trip exploring the river Cleddau

Four people have died after a paddleboarding incident on a river in South Wales.

A woman has been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter, according to Heddlu Dyfed-Powys Police.

At a glance: key points

  • Nine people were pulled out of the river Cleddau by emergency services in Haverfordwest at around 9am on Saturday (6 Nov), following a multi-agency response to reports of people in distress
  • Three died at the scene of the accident, while a fourth died later in hospital. 
  • The remaining five people were pulled from the river unharmed
  • More than 50 officers from across the fire and police services responded to the incident, plus coastguard, RNLI and Air Ambulance services
  • Heddlu Dyfed-Powys Police have said that “the exact circumstances surrounding the incident are being investigated”, but a woman has been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter and released under investigation
  • The group of nine are thought to have been on a weekend river trip exploring the river, connected to the South Wales Paddle Boarders and Salty Dog Co, an organisation based in Port Talbot 
  • Police have confirmed that the following people died in the incident: 41-year-old Andrea Powell, from Bridgend, Morgan Rogers, 24, from Cefin Coed, Merthyr Tydfil, Nicola Wheatley, 40, from Pontarddulais, Swansea, and Paul O’Dwyer, 42, from Sandfields, Port Talbot.

What’s been said?

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In a statement, Heddlu Dyfed-Powys Police said: “Following the incident on the Cleddau River in Haverfordwest on Saturday, October 30, Dyfed-Powys Police can confirm a woman from the South Wales area has today (November 5) been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter as part of the investigation. She has been released under investigation.

“The exact circumstances surrounding the incident are being investigated, but it is believed that the group got into difficulty in the water.

“A member of the public is also believed to have entered the water to attempt a rescue, later exiting the water safely.

“Next of kin are being supported by specialist Family Liaison Officers.”