Nerys Lloyd, a paddleboard company owner has pleaded guilty to gross negligence manslaughter after four people died.
Nicola Wheatley, 40, Morgan Rogers, 24, Paul O'Dwyer, 42, and Andrea Powell, 41, died in the incident in 2021 after being taken out paddleboarding in what was described as "extremely hazardous conditions" on the River Cleddau, Haverfordwest.
The now dissolved company "Salty Dog" owned by Nerys Lloyd operated the tour that day with eight people, four of which sadly died. It was later revealed she did not have the correct qualifications to run the tour.
On 30 October 2021, there had been heavy flooding and severe weather warnings were in place, with the river running fast, and the weir in an extremely hazardous condition, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said.
When the group approached the weir, three participants were pulled over the top into its base and became stuck. O'Dwyer, also an instructor, then re-entered the water in an attempt to save the others and became trapped. The four victims died as a result of drowning/immersion.
An expert concluded that the tour should not have taken place while encompassing the weir and that Lloyd did not have a suitable qualification, and her planning and supervision was inadequate. Investigations were made jointly by the Dyfed-Powys Police and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
Nerys Lloyd also pleaded guilty to offences under the Health and Safety at Work Act etc 1974.
Lisa Rose, a specialist prosecutor with the CPS special crime division, said: "This was an avoidable tragedy. Despite going to check the state of the river before departing on the tour, Nerys Lloyd failed to inspect the weir. The majority of participants had limited experience, and Lloyd was not qualified to take paddleboarders out in such hazardous conditions.
"There was no safety briefing or formal risk assessments, and the participants were not advised that they would be traversing a weir or instructed on options to get out of the water. Final decisions to continue with the event were Lloyd's decision, and as a result she held complete and entire responsibility.
"I hope these convictions provide some sense of justice for those affected and our thoughts remain with the families and friends of the victims at this time."
Lloyd will be sentenced on 15 April.
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