Emma Louise Powell · Prevention of Future Deaths report

On the 16th of July 2022 I commenced an investigation into the death of Emma Louise Powell (DOB 22.10.97 DOD 15.7.2). The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on the 8th of December 2022. The conclusion of the inquest was that the death was the result of an accident, the cause of Miss Powell’s death being recorded as 1(a) Immersion

The circumstances of the death are as follows :

On the 14th of July 2022 at Conwy Morfa, the deceased got into difficulties whilst paddleboarding. The current of the Spring tide resulted in her being unable to make her way to safety and she was recovered from the water after being submerged for a period in excess of ten minutes. She was taken to Ysbyty Gwynedd where her death was confirmed shortly after midnight on the 15th of July.

The evidence at inquest indicated that Miss Powell had purchased a paddleboard from Tesco at Llandudno Junction on the evening of the 14th of July 2022, that she had taken it to Conwy Morfa and had thereafter used it in an unsafe manner, whereby she did not wear any life saving equipment and the safety leash on the board was by way of an ankle leash which was inappropriate for the fast flowing water.

The evidence further indicated that at the point of sale, there was no safety advice or guidance provided in relation to either the advisory wearing of a safety vest, or the need to be aware that the positioning of a safety leash should take into account the environment/water conditions where the paddleboard is to be used as per the below information:

Unless action is taken to improve the provision of information to purchasers of paddleboards and/or to regulate the sale of paddleboards to ensure that the provision of advice of this nature becomes a mandatory requirement at the point of retail sale, then there is an ongoing risk that further accidents will occur and that lives may be lost as a result.