Despite a yellow weather warning coming to an end on that morning, flood alerts remained in place on rivers in Pembrokeshire, including the eastern and western Cleddau catchment areas. Wales News Service, (L-R) Paul O'Dwyer, Nicola Wheatley and Morgan Rogers. DCI Jonathan Rees said a full investigation was under way and his thoughts were with the victims families and friends and the injured paddleboarder in hospital. Multiple helicopters from the National Police Air Service, Coastguard and Wales Air Ambulance also assisted in the search. If you would prefer to go downstream, park and join at Radyr though you will have to carry your board for a good 10-15 minutes. At Aberavon, you can launch from the main beach or on the small side near the car park which is better for windier days as youll be more protected. The guide should have known there would be issues after the weather conditions. For a long time, Rest Bay has been where surfers have flocked. I blame us all, the river surfing community, the river surfing/SUP manufacturers, and the river safety experts for not evaluating and learning from Michael James passing, a thing called flush drowning that is completely ignored by the river surfing and paddle board community. The. The suspect, who police said comes from South Wales, has been released under investigation. He had helped raise more than 4,000 for charity in recent weeks by paddling down the River Wye in 24 hours, navigating the 100 miles from Glasbury to Tintern Abbey. At the Taffs Mead Embankment, near the Principality Stadium, there is a small pontoon, and you can paddle upstream. A woman who died in a paddle boarding accident on a river in west Wales had a "beautiful, kind and loving soul", her family have said. But the SUP community, the river enthusiasts, and the public at large needs learn from what happened to Nicholas Zawadski. Morgan Rogers, 24, from Cefin Coed, Merthyr Tydfil, Nicola Wheatley, 40, from Pontardulais, Swansea, and Paul ODwyer, 42, from Sandfields, Port Talbot also died. The visitor centre offers a variety of courses and private tuition. 'Paul O'Dwyer, where do we begin? The report, available via this link, contains details of what happened, subsequent actions taken and recommendations. But first, let's talk about Spade Kayaks. Katrina Rohman is a Marketing Manager in the tourism industry and has over 15 years of expertise in the field. 110 teams Swim, bike, run & kayak the course to cross the finish line first. Dyfed-Powys police said the victims next of kin were being supported by specialist officers. As South Wales' oldest and most experienced stand up paddling boarding club, we ensure all of our team are friendly, professional, inclusive and of course safety focussed. He was an army surfing champion, British Army 7 aside rugby team member, Aberavon Green stars rugby player, ski instructor and completed multiple times in British and Welsh 3 peak events. He devoted his life to contributing to society in his many adventures in raising money for different causes. It was his first day in the backcountry. However, enjoying a city break doesnt mean you have to miss out on an adventure. Appreciate that call to action, David. The Corps of the Royal Engineers tweeted a tribute to Mr O'Dwyer, adding he was a reservist with the Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers until 2014. Where To Go Paddleboarding in South Wales. Being a whitewater SUPer and seeing these accidents, its mostly been shock and what went wrong. A former soldier and father-of-three who died in a paddle boarding accident on a river in west Wales lost his life after jumping into the water to save two women in distress, it has been. Shock and disbelief and very sad stories about the lost victims; but then, silence by the community, industry, and experts. Parts of the centre of Haverfordwest were shut off until the afternoon while a search took place. Water can be deceptively fast, especially at flood. When in fact all the training in the world will teach you all the training in the world does not guarantee safety. Ms Wheatleyworked in toxicology at London's Guys and St Thomas's Hospital in London before joining the Cardiff and Vale University health Board 15 years ago. On Saturday morning, hundreds of people gathered in Port Talbot in memory of ODwyer. A further five people were rescued without injury. Paul was a family man who loved the great outdoors and was in his prime. Our goal: to support and grow paddlesports and keep the sport's stoke alive. Read about our approach to external linking. Tighten up your mukluks. A woman has been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter after a paddleboarding incident on a river in Wales in which four people died. The group, who were part of an organised outing, had been in the water only minutes when they were hit by a deluge of rushing water as they paddled near a weir on the swollen river. Police have issued an update on a paddleboarder seriously injured in the tragic incident in Haverfordwest last weekend. A family spokesman said: 'Paul was a devoted husband, father, son and brother. Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, SE1 9GF. Another woman is in hospital, in a critical condition. Heavy rain had caused river levels to rise and become more dangerous. An MAIB spokesman said: 'A team of inspectors from the Marine Accident Investigation Branch has deployed to Haverfordwest to undertake a preliminary assessment of the accident, working in co-operation with other agencies. He thought he was safe under the arms of a so called Expert. The weekend before the tragedy, Mr O'Dwyer had completed a dangerous 24-hour paddleboard marathon along a 100-mile stretch of the River Wye on the Welsh border. I watched the TV coverage as it happened, spotted the weir (lowhead dam) it is straight, flat and boxed in at either end nothing designed to break up a retentive flow. Driven by a passion for adventure and exploring the waterways of the principality, the club was formed over 13 years ago. Around Swansea Bay and The Gower Peninsula, it is an easy, accessible and versatile way to experience the water. Cardiff International White Water is a watersports centre. Stopping and portaging above unrunnable drops becomes very difficult. Dyfed-Powys Police said: 'Our thoughts are with her family, and all those involved in this tragic incident.'. Ms Rogers, of Merthyr Tydfil, was deputy store manager at the town's Aldi supermarket but was planning to join the fire brigade. He's lost a few friends from heart attacks and was raising money for other men to get screened. Two fire service boats helped with bank and river searches, which also involved coastguard teams and helicopters. You do also need to be a member of a water sports club. A woman who died in a paddle boarding accident on a river in west Wales had a "beautiful, kind and loving soul", her family have said. The group of nine adults from South Wales had travelled to Haverfordwest for a paddle-boarding excursion. Sadly two women and a man died at the scene and a woman remains in a critical condition in hospital., The Health and Safety Executive, the coroner and the Marine Accident Investigation Branch have been informed. All Rights Reserved. Friends said Mr O'Dwyer was an ardent lover of paddleboarding and would often spend his weekends out on the water. ODwyers family also said: Paul was a water baby. I think the UK has a history of learning from these type of incidents, the Lyme Bay Disaster back in 1993 certainly tightened up Sea paddling safety. Another. 3 min read. "Paul was the life and soul of the party," says Paul O'Dwyer's close friend. Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. Haverfordwest: Fourth paddleboarder dies and woman arrested - BBC News. We use some essential cookies to make this website work. 11:08 AM EDT, Sat November 6, 2021. Nicola was a loving mother, daughter, daughter-in-law and wife. Sat 6 Nov 2021 11.03 EDT First published on Sat 6 Nov 2021 06.01 EDT Police in Wales have arrested a woman on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter following a paddleboarding incident a week. Margam Park's pond is the perfect location to learn as it is very sheltered, meaning no waves or swell making it that little easier to get to your feet if you do manage to end up in the water! Paddleboarders deaths on the river Cleddau. Meet Our Latest Paddling Life Sweepstakes Winner! As a G5 WW kayaker and BCU WW coach/leader I had been watching the rainfall as we had a novices trip the same Sunday, we had a months rainfall in 24hrs, the rivers were out of their banks all over SW England and where this happened in Wales is probably 100 miles in a straight line. The SUP community is still working its way through the seven stages of grief, the first being shock and denial. Ms Wheatley, who worked as a specialist in poisons information with the National Poisons Information Service (NPIS), was described by her family as loving mother, daughter, daughter-in-law and wife. River conditions at Haverfordwest Town Weir the day after the fatal paddleboarding accident Summary At about 0900 on 30 October 2021, a group of nine stand up paddleboarders on a commercial river. This route has a lot to offer, especially if youre looking for that connection to nature. Ms Powell joinsMorgan Rogers, 24, from Merthyr Tydfil, Nicola Wheatley, 40, from Pontarddulais, Swansea, and Paul O'Dwyer, 42, from Sandfields, Neath Port Talbot, among the casualties after the group got into difficultyon the paddleboarding trip on the River Cleddau in Haverfordwest. It read: 'She will be remembered for her calm, friendly and totally professional manner even when faced with the most difficult of cases. It is over 130 miles long, and several places along the river are ideal for paddleboarding. Three people have died and one is in critical condition in hospital after a group of paddleboarders got into distress on a river in Wales, police have confirmed. The suspect, who police said was from south Wales, has been released under investigation. A woman who died in a paddleboarding accident on a river in west Wales had a "beautiful, kind and loving soul", her family have said. . Chay Quinn For Mailonline An inquest into the deaths of four paddleboarders who died after an . Is it time Harry & Meghan accept Clarkson's apology and move on? We are no longer accepting comments on this article. Onlooker Caroline Brown, 41, said: 'It was really emotional to see how many people had come along. At the entrance to the sea, there is a beautiful lagoon to paddle around and a sandbank where you can sit and relax before paddling back upriver. That's the sort of bloke he was.'. Now, the blue flag beach has an activity centre where you can hire wet suits and SUP equipment from Porthcawl Surf School. An MAIB spokesperson said: A team of inspectors from the Marine Accident Investigation Branch has deployed to Haverfordwest to undertake a preliminary assessment of the accident, working in cooperation with other agencies. Lee West, a business partner and best friend of 22 years, paid tribute to ODwyer, who was a former director of the Copr Bar in Swansea and a co-founder of veterans charity Sa1ute. His mum, Natasha Williams, said: "He saw Paul first and tried to get a rope to him. 'He tried to get to the man by using the rope but could not. Father-of-three Paul O'Dwyer, 42, lost his life along with the two women who . She was amazing in every way. The forum to educate others needs to be more prevalent. Chay Quinn For Mailonline, Terrifying moment paddleboarder catches sight of a pack of sharks in the middle of the ocean and FALLS off his board, Pictured: Three victims of paddleboard tragedy as tributes are paid to heroic father-of-three who died trying to save the two women victims, Bungling helicopter pilot blows over stadium roof injuring eight, Five hidden-gem destinations for an unforgettable holiday in 2023, BBC Breakfast celebrates forty years of hilarious bloopers, Royal Family will find it 'impossible' to compromise with Sussexes, Motorists slowly drive down snowy hill in treacherous conditions, Ken Bruce will be joining the Greatest Hits Radio family in April, Russian pro-war fanatic warns Britain could be 'wiped off the map', Kamala opts out of kneeling with Biden for Warriors photo op. @RMonREM. Though I can speak out, and will keep doing so despite those advise me otherwise (many who are my friends as well as those who really dont care for my input). Did you encounter any technical issues? They were part of a group of nine from the South Wales Paddle Boarders and Salty Dog Co, an organisation based in Port Talbot involved in the incident on Saturday during a weekend trip exploring the river. 894646. ), The Grand Salmon: Raising Awareness for Salmon in the Northwest, Finding Humor in Paddlesports: One-on-one with Cartoonist Jonny Hawkins, Getting Your Mana On: Inside Tahitis 29th Hawaiki Nui Vaa Race, Great Alabama 650, the Worlds Longest Annual Paddle Race, Kicks off Oct 1-11, A Glint at Sprint: Olympians Add to Their Medal Tally, Surfs Up! One of the victims, former soldier and ardent supper Paul ODwyer, 42, died while trying to rescue the other two victims Morgan Rogers, 24, and Nicola Wheatley, 40 during the tragedy. She has been released under investigation.. As, the SUP community deals with the deaths of the four UK paddle boarders and the arrest of the organizer of the trip, the moment can not be lost on how to learn from the accident; for example, expanding eduction about low head dams, discussing trip planning and acknowledge all the factors impacting decision making (flow rates, river terrain/hazards, weather, & human factors), etc. Its a great way to do some sightseeing, as youll pass bridges and Bute Park. "He gave the rope to a man and went in after the girl, he did CPR until the emergency services arrived.". Five others in the party, understood to be part of the South Wales Paddle Boarders and Salty Dog Co, were unharmed. 'Joel was crazy to do it at the time but how can you not when there are people fighting for their lives? At the scene on Saturday, around 30 firefighters, including specialist wading crews and swift water rescue technicians, were among the large joint-search and rescue operation. It is enclosed by spectacular cliffs, where you can also walk along the Wales Coast Path. News stories, speeches, letters and notices, Reports, analysis and official statistics, Data, Freedom of Information releases and corporate reports. Emergency services first received reports of people in distress in the River Cleddau in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, shortly after 9am on Saturday. Connecting with the club will allow you to discover more waterways. Close friend and policewoman Nerys Lloyd started the touching tribute today (Sat) as she walked to the sea alongside two children. Morgan Rogers, 24, Nicola Wheatley, 40 and Paul O'Dwyer, 42, died after fierce downpours lashed the River Cleddau in Pembrokeshire, Wales, on Saturday morning. According to local reports, a group of nine people from different areas across South Wales were participating in an annual tour, spending the weekend together exploring the river. Cardigan Bay. Andrea Powell, 41, from the Bridgend area. A statement from Morgan's family said: 'Morgan was the best that she could be. His proud mother Natasha said: 'Joel was walking across the bridge when he saw people in trouble so he took his phone out of his pocket. She was our 'go to' person for organising projects and campaigns. A former soldier and father-of-three who died in a paddle boarding accident on a river in west Wales lost his life after jumping into the water to save two women in . To ensure you enjoy the best experience, all of our coaches are trained and qualified WSA SUP instructors. "He loved all that helping people and raising a few pound for good, worthwhile causes in the community.". These are the best places for groups seeking stand-up paddleboarding in South Wales: Big Blue Adventures; Llandegfedd Lake Visitor and Watersports Centre; Gower Activity Centres; See more stand-up paddleboarding for groups in South Wales on Tripadvisor Sessions can be tailored to suit your needs or . We were like 'what'?'. Dyfed-Powys police said: Following the incident on Cleddau River, Haverfordwest on Saturday 30/10, a woman from the south Wales area has been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter as part of the investigation. Our thoughts are with her family, and all those involved in this tragic incident. If you glide through the Forest of Dean, you can see wild boar and deer roaming freely. Authorities responsible for weirs should ensure they have assessed the risks to the public and have implemented appropriate control measures such as signage, railings, warning buoys or even barriers to keep the public safe. Our equipment maintained to the highest standards and sourced . Welsh Tourist Board. And for Nicholas Zawadski it was no freak accident, he knew the risks of a paddle boarder attempting to clean any rapid. Part of an organized outing, the group was reportedly part of the South Wales Paddle Boarders and Salty Dog Co.Reports say the group had been in the water only minutes when they were hit by a deluge of rushing water as they paddled near a weir on the swollen river. Focusing on things to do in her hometown of Cardiff and the surrounding areas. Sense of injustice lingers after Seoul Halloween crush, Chess gets a risqu makeover. Police said the river was. Let's talk about Spade Kayak's 'Bliss'. All forces asked to check every officer against police database in wake of David Carrick case, Ambulance strikes: GMB union announce six further dates for action, Cost of living latest: People with recent mortgage offer urged to renegotiate; yearly MOTs could be scrapped; why prices may never go back to what they were, "She has been released under investigation.". A woman has become the fourth person to die in a horror paddleboard tragedy after succumbing to her injuries a week on from the fateful trip. Natasha said Mr Williams, an apprentice plumber from Haverfordwest, had always been a strong swimmer but said she was relieved he didn't get swept away in the flooded river. https://www.gov.uk/maib-reports/commerical-stand-up-paddleboarding-accident-on-river-weir-with-loss-of-4-lives, pdf report at MAIB investigation report 13/2022: Stand up paddleboards. The river was flooded at the time and at least one local water sports company had cancelled all its activities because of the severe weather. Jump on our giant XXL inflatable SUP's, an 18ft long inflatable paddle board that's specifically designed for groups. A spokesman for the Pembrokeshire Coroner said inquests would be opened on the three victims later this month. Newcastle (locally / nj u k s l / NEW-kass-l; Awabakal: Mulubinba) is a metropolitan area and the second most populated city in the state of New South Wales, Australia.It includes the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie local government areas, and is the hub of the Greater Newcastle area, which includes most parts of the local government areas of City of Newcastle, City of Lake Macquarie . The family of Ms Rogers, a deputy store manager at a supermarket, paid tribute to their lost loved one, calling her a beautiful, kind and loving soul. Tributes flocked in for the three victims of the horrific tragedy in the aftermath of the incident, with relatives of health worker Ms Wheatley, known as Nikki by her colleagues, saying she was a loving wife, mother and daughter. If you are considering a trip to South Wales or a local looking to try a new spot, there are standout places to stand up paddleboard. We have noticed that there is an issue with your subscription billing details. 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