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Ex-soldier and two paddleboarders die after he tries to rescue them

A father of three died after trying to save two struggling paddleboarders in south-west Wales on Saturday, in an “absolutely heartbreaking” incident.

Paul O’Dwyer died along with two female paddleboarders he was trying to help. A third woman was reported to be in a critical condition.

O’Dwyer, 42, a former soldier, jumped into the water in an attempt to rescue two women in distress, but was later pronounced dead on the banks of the River Cleddau in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire.

“Paul put his own life on the line yesterday to make sure others were safe,” said a spokesperson for Aberavon Green Stars RFC, a rugby club O’Dwyer belonged to.

The club paid tribute to O’Dwyer’s “infectious smile” and upbeat character, describing him as an “avid adventurer, whether he would be paddleboarding, surfing, skiing, walking or climbing, nothing was too small for Paul to achieve”.

A group of nine paddleboarders were exploring the river on a weekend excursion when they got into difficulty near a weir. Dyfed-Powys police said they received reports of persons in distress shortly after 9am on Saturday.

Emergency services – including 30 firefighters, the coastguard, RNLI and police helicopters – arrived at the scene and five people were rescued without injury.

But O’Dwyer and two women lost their lives and another woman was being treated in intensive care at a local hospital on Sunday.

O’Dwyer died “attempting to save two of the girls also in distress due to an unexpected downpour”, said Vickie Mckinven, who was on the trip but pulled out of the morning paddleboard over weather concerns.

It is “absolutely heartbreaking”, Mckinven said, adding that O’Dwyer “did so much to raise money for charities”.

O’Dwyer cofounded charity SA1UTE, which supports veterans in south Wales, and previously was a soldier with the Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers 108 Welsh Squadron militia.

“He was relentless in his drive for raising money for charity,” SA1UTE said in a tribute to O’Dwyer, adding: “We have lost a friend that gave so much of his life to help others. It still hasn’t sunk in, that these tragic events have taken away someone in the prime of their life.

“Paul had a real zest for life and always took things head on with a smile on his face.”

O’Dwyer helped raise more than £4,000 for charity in recent weeks by paddling down the River Wye in 24 hours, navigating the 100 miles from Glasbury to Tintern Abbey. He also organised an event in September that raised more than £2,000 for the RNLI and a local lifeguard club.

Dyfed-Powys police said the victims’ next of kin were being supported by specialist officers.

DCI Jonathan Rees said police were investigating what provoked the tragedy, and called on the public to report any information or submit potential video footage.

“At this stage, my thoughts and the thoughts of my colleagues are with the family of those who lost loved ones, and of the injured person who remains in hospital,” DCI Rees said.

DCI Rees urged the public – with paddleboarding growing in popularity – to “ensure they understand the weather conditions and water conditions at a particular location where they may be enjoying that sport”.

Salty Dog Co, a watersports clothing shop based in Port Talbot that was involved in the excursion, paid tribute to O’Dwyer.

“It is with heavy heart that we say goodbye to our salty dog Paul,” Salty Dog tweeted on Saturday.

“A lovely human being taken too soon. Our thoughts and prayers are with your friends and family. You will be missed greatly.”

News

Gov Nwifuru congratulates Mbata on emergence as Ohanaeze president General

Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru has congratulated the newly elected President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Senator Mbata.

Nwifuru said with the experiences Senator Mbata has garnered in various theatres, taking the organisation to yet another level of growth is indubitable.

This is contained in a statement issued on Sunday, by his Chief Press Secretary, Dr Monday Uzor and made available to journalists in Abakaliki.

The Governor says, “Sen Mbata your emergence is a testament to your outstanding leadership qualities, dedication, and the confidence reposed in you by our people.

“This pivotal role offers an opportunity to unite and advance the interests of our ethnic group, promoting our rich cultural heritage, values, and aspirations.

“I am confident that under your able leadership, you will continue to serve as a beacon of progress, fostering unity, development, and a stronger sense of identity among the Igbo people”.

While assuring greater collaboration with the apex Igbo socio-cultural body, Governor Nwifuru asserted “Please be assured of my administration’s support as we work collaboratively to uplift our communities and address the challenges facing our people”

News

Tinubu approves ban on homosexuality in Nigeria’s military

Nigeria’s military personnel have been banned from engaging in homosexuality, lesbianism, bestiality, cross-dressing, and other acts deemed contrary to the ethics of the country’s armed forces.

The nation’s military personnel were also barred from body piercing, tattooing, disorderly behaviour and drunkenness on or off duty.

The fresh directive is contained in Section 26 of the revised Harmonised Armed Forces Terms and Conditions of Service signed by President Bola Tinubu on December 16, 2024, a copy sighted by DAILY POST’S correspondent at the weekend.

Also, the condition of service prohibited military personnel from joining secret cults and owning private businesses.

“An officer must not engage in homosexuality, lesbianism, or bestiality.

“He/she is not to belong to or engage in activities of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, or Trans, Queer or Questioning, Intersex, Asexual or Agender, Two-Spirit, LGBTQIA2S+, group and cross-dressing, amongst others.
“An officer must not engage in body piercing and tattooing of any part of his body. An officer shall not engage in any form of disorderly behaviour, brawl, or any action of public disgrace. An officer must not at any time be drunk, whether on or off duty.”

The condition of service also forbids the involvement of officers in amorous relationships with subordinates or their spouses.

The military personnel are obligated to pay financial dues, including vehicle licenses and insurance, on time, while they are prohibited from joining secret societies or political parties.

“An officer shall pay all just financial obligations in a proper and timely manner, especially those imposed by law and mutual contract. It is a very serious offence for an officer to be apprehended for failure to license or insure his vehicle and other legal financial obligations. In the same vein, the issuance of a dud cheque constitutes an offence.

“An officer shall not hold membership in any secret society or political party. He shall not participate, in any way, in activities concerned with such societies or parties, even in observatory capacities.

“For the avoidance of doubt, since cultural or purely traditional religious societies are not normally secret by membership or in the conduct of their affairs, they are ipso facto expelled from belonging to secret societies.”

“An officer shall not engage in private business. He shall not use or be allowed to use government property, his name, position, and connection in any way with commercial enterprises outside employment or activity with or without compensation, which interfere or has the tendency of interfering with his official duty or which may be reasonably expected to bring discredit to the Service,” the document stated.
Meanwhile, the document did not spell out punishments or disciplinary measures against any personnel who violates the rules.

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Kano Emirship tussle: Bayero rejects Appeal Court judgement, heads for Supreme Court

Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero has rejected the judgement of the Appeal Court which nullified a Federal High Court order that removed Muhammadu Sanusi II as the 16th Emir of Kano.

Bayero on Sunday said he is heading to Supreme Court to challenge the appeal court verdict.

Speaking to newsmen at the Nasarawa Palace of the 15th Emir Of Kano, the Sarkin Dawaki Babba, Aminu Babba DanAgundi, who filed the suit that was struck out by the Appeal Court, said, “Sanusi did not even understand that he has completely lost out in the whole of the cases at hand.

“That is why I expressed regrets over remarks by the 16th Emir of Kano Muhammadu Sanusi II, using the Mosque pillar to propagate something that was not true and did not happen at the Appeal Court.

“We initially went to Federal High Court seeking the nullification of the repeal law by the State Assembly, which we felt was done haphazardly.”

DanAgundi further warned Sanusi to stop parading himself as the Emir of Kano.

“The position of Muhammadu Sanusi II that he emerged victorious was wrong, the court said that the Federal High Court has no legal right to hear issues with regards to chieftaincy affairs. But what we went to court for was different.

“We were not arguing on the powers of State Assembly to enact of repeal laws, what we were asking was lack of fair hearing on the 15th Emir Aminu Ado Bayero, that he was removed without given him chance to protect himself.

“The State Assembly didn’t follow the right procedures in repealing the laws,” he added.

He asked the Police and the DSS to stop Sanusi from allegedly moving around with thugs, accusing the Emir of plotting to disrupt peace in Kano.

According to him, Sanusi will not claim victory until the Supreme Court judgement has been given.

“The Attorney General and Speaker of the Kano State Assembly went to court seeking to stop Bayero from parading himself as Emir, but the Appeal Court rejected that position and said that Bayero was not given fair hearing.

“By this it clearly shows that Bayero is still the Emir of Kano.”