Three dead and another fighting for their life after being swept away in flash floods in Wales
Paddleboarder, 42, swept to his death alongside two women in Wales as another fights for her life – as friend reveals she pulled out of trip hours earlier because of stormy conditions
Police confirm three dead and a fourth person fighting for their life in hospitalPaul O’Dwyer, 42, killed alongside two women after getting into distress on riverFormer soldier and dedicated charity fundraiser had taken part in paddleboarding marathon for charity just a week earlierAnother woman is in a critical condition following the incident in Haverfordwest, South Wales, on Saturday morning
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Three people have died and a fourth is fighting for their life in hospital after being swept away in flash floods in Wales.
Paul O’Dwyer, 42, died along with two women after the early morning paddeboarding session after getting into distress on a river in Haverfordwest, South Wales, on Saturday morning.
Another woman remains in a critical condition at Withybush Hospital, Dyfed-Powys Police has confirmed.
Mr O’Dwyer, a former soldier and dedicated charity fundraiser, had raised more than £4,000 for heart screening with a 24-hour paddleboarding marathon down another Welsh river with two friends just a week ago.
He took part in the marathon after losing four friends to heart problems.
Friends said Paul was an ardent lover of paddleboarding and would often spend his weekends out on the water.
Paul O’Dwyer, one of the three people who died in river Cleddau, Haverfordwest, Wales, on Saturday
Emergency services at the River Cleddau in Haverfordwest, Wales, today. At least three people were on their boards on a usually calm stretch of the river when they were hit by a huge deluge of flood water
Before his marathon, Paul said: ‘So over the past year I’ve lost four friends to heart issues and heart attacks. If you know we save one life then that would be amazing and well worth it.
‘The friends I’ve lost none of them knew they had any issues with their heart. So if they’d been screened, then there’s a good chance it could have been picked up.
‘I’m approaching that age now, I am 42 now, so I’m thinking it’s time to get screened and take friends along with me on that journey to hopefully stop another person dying young.’
Paul, who described himself as a ‘dedicated daddy’, also gave regular lessons with the Salty Dog Co surfshot at Aberavon beach near his home.
Salty Dog clothing company said it was saying goodbye with ‘a heavy heart’, saying Mr O’Dwyer would be missed greatly.
He had travelled 60 miles from his home in Port Talbot, South Wales, to the River Cleddau in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, when tragedy struck.
Rescue teams searching for paddle boarders at the River Cleddau today. It comes amid warnings to be careful of dangerous ‘fast flowing and deep floodwaters’
Three paddle boards were recovered by rescuers and laid on the river bank close to Pembrokeshire Council’s head offices in the town centre. Locals say the river levels had risen because of high rainfall in recent days
The group, 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.
Five more people in the expedition, understood to be part of the South Wales Paddle Boarders and Salty Dog Co, were rescued from the water.
The group of nine people were from different areas across South Wales and were on an annual tour, spending the weekend together exploring the river.
One member of the group said she pulled out of the trip due to concerns about the adverse conditions.
She told PA: ‘Absolutely heartbreaking, was all good friends. And did so much to raise money for charities.’
Dyfed-Powys Police has not yet released the names of those who have died, but said their next of kin are being supported by specialist officers.
Detective Chief Inspector Jonathan Rees added that a full investigation into the incident is underway, but at this stage his thoughts were focused on the families of the victims.
A police statement said: ‘Dyfed-Powys Police received reports of people in distress in the Cleddau River in Haverfordwest shortly after 9am on Saturday, October 30.
A kite surfer was also rescued by a helicopter yesterday afternoon after strong winds launched him 30ft into the air and flung him onto land in Lyme Regis on the Jurassic Coast in Dorset
‘A group of nine adults from the south Wales area had travelled to Pembrokeshire for a paddle-boarding excursion.
‘The exact circumstances surrounding the incident are being investigated, but it is believed that the group got into difficulty in the water.
‘Sadly two women and a man died at the scene, and a woman remains in a critical condition in hospital. Next of kin are being supported by specialist family liaison officers.’
The immediate area was cordoned off by emergency services for several hours following reports of the incident.
Around 30 firefighters, including specialist wading crews and swift water rescue technicians, were among the large joint-search and rescue operation.
Multiple helicopters from the National Police Air Service, Coastguard and Wales Air Ambulance also assisted in the search.
Liz Saville Roberts, leader of Plaid Cymru in Westminster, said on Saturday: ‘The news emerging from the River Cleddau incident in Haverfordwest is distressing.
‘God speed the emergency services and support the families.’
It comes amid 70mph winds and heavy rainfall battering much of the UK on Sunday.
The Met Office has said ‘damaging winds’ of up to 60mph to 70mph are possible throughout the day, particularly along the south coast, due to a ‘deep Atlantic low pressure system’ arriving from the west.
The HM Coroner, Health and Safety Executive and the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) have been informed.
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.
‘The aim of the MAIB’s preliminary assessment is to help with determining the way forward.’
