Marine Accident Investigation Branch
Accident Investigation Report 13/2022
Read our marine accident investigation report, which includes what happened, actions taken, and recommendations:
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 tour from Haverfordwest to Burton Ferry, Wales, descended Haverfordwest Town Weir. Four of the group became trapped at the weir by the hydraulic towback and subsequently lost their lives.
Safety Issues
- the leaders planning and preparation for the tour was inadequate and overlooked the extreme hazard posed by the weir
- signage at the launch point and on the river did not adequately alert participants to the risk of descending the weir
- clothing, buoyancy aid and leash wearing by participants did not follow recognised guidance
- the leaders did not have the training, experience or qualifications to lead the tour
- UK stand up paddleboarding safety messaging and training governance is inconsistent and there was no means for the participants to judge the proficiency of training and tour providers
Statement from the Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents
Recommendations
On 30 May 2022, the Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents wrote to Dw?r Cymru Welsh Water to recommend (2022/108) that, in conjunction with Pembrokeshire County Council, Milford Haven Port Authority and other stakeholders as appropriate, it conduct an immediate risk assessment of the hazard posed to river users by Haverfordwest Town Weir, and implement control measures as appropriate to mitigate that risk. Such measures could include, inter alia, riverside signage, warning marker buoys and, if deemed necessary, physical barriers.
On publication of this report, further recommendations (2022/134, 2022/135, 2022/136) to the UK national sports councils have been made to: complete their review to identify the best organisation(s) to act as the national governing body for the sport of stand up paddleboarding; include safety management in their criteria for conferring recognition as a national governing body; and, publish a national governing body Guide to Good Practice.