Two paddleboarders feared dead & 1 in hospital after they were swept from their boards in sudden storm on river
TWO paddleboarders are feared to have died and a third is in hospital after they were swept off their boards in a sudden storm this morning.
A huge rescue mission was launched at 9am today after fierce downpours hit River Cleddau in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire.
Helicopters hovered above the water while police combed the banks after emergency services received reports of two men and a woman in distress close to the town centre.
But the rescue ended in tragedy tonight as two bodies were reportedly discovered.
Police have not yet confirmed the number of casualties but are expected to release a statement later.
A witness who saw the horror unfold said: "A man's body was seen in the river and a woman was also taken away. She seemed alive but didn't look very well at all.
"It is terrible and just so tragic. It started off a lovely Saturday morning then the river just swelled up.
"It must have been terrifying."
A second witness said a "young woman" was pulled from the river.
"They were just below the weir when they were hit by a flash flood which came from nowhere," they said.
TRAGEDY ON WELSH RIVER
"It was raining hard at the time and the river levels are quite high because of the bad weather we've had this week.
"There are two air ambulances here along with police and coastguard helicopters.
"It's a major operation but they seem to be concentrating their effort down river now looking for the missing man."
Five more people in the paddleboarding expedition survived but were in shock.
It's understood the group had travelled from south-east Wales. They were visiting as part of an adventure trip, it's believed.
Police recovered three paddleboards from the river and stacked them on the bank during their search today.
This evening, DCI Jonathan Rees of Dyfed-Powys Police said he wouldn't yet be releasing further information - but added that the search has come to an end as everyone involved has been accounted for.
He said his priority tonight is ensuring those involved and their families are getting appropriate support from specially-trained officers.
An investigation is under way.
Speaking earlier this afternoon, one local said: "There is a hell of a lot of police and emergency services here.
"We are just praying they are safe.
'IT MUST HAVE BEEN TERRIFYING'
"We heard that there were three paddleboarders out there and caught in the flood. It is a regular place for these paddleboarders."
A spokesman from the Welsh Ambulance Service said: “We were called at 9.16am this morning to reports of a water-based incident involving multiple people near Quay Street, Haverfordwest.
“We responded with two rapid response vehicles, three emergency ambulances and two units from the Wales Air Ambulance.
“As of 1pm one patient had been transferred by road to Withybush Hospital for further treatment."
A Dyfed-Powys Police stated this afternoon: ";A multi-agency search is taking place of the river Cleddau in Haverfordwest following reports of people in distress in the water.
"The Quay Street and surrounding areas have been cordoned off, and we are asking the public to keep clear of the area at this time.
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"Ambulance, fire and coastguard crews, including the coastguard helicopter, are assisting with the search."
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A lifeboat from nearby Angle wasn launched to join the search.
The river is running high and fast following the heavy rain overnight.
