‘Everything he did was for the benefit of other people’
TRIBUTES have been paid to one of the people who died in the paddleboard tragedy. Paul O’Dwyer, from Port Talbot, was a married father-of-three, former soldier, charity fundraiser and former director of Swansea’s Copr bar.
He was pronounced dead on the banks of the Cleddau river in Haverfordwest on Saturday.
Armed forces charity Sa1ute, which he founded, has launched a fundraiser to help Mr O’Dwyer’s family.
Trustee, business partner and best friend Lee West said: “We’ve been best friends for 22 years.
“We met in the military and he was one of those people you just clicked with. We had the same sense of humour, the same sense of adventure and we hit it off straight from the start.
“He was great fun. He’d be like your corny uncle in the corner, with his corny jokes. He resigned as director of Copr Bar because he had other obligations but we would still meet up. We have a walking club and we’d go on that and he’d bring his children along. He always put them first.
“Paul enjoyed SUPing (stand-up paddleboarding) and had been on an instructors’ course and was going along on that excursion. He was physically fit - he’d done an Ironman and he was a former lifeguard, so he was a very good swimmer. He was just a genuine lovely, lovely man”.
Just over a week ago Mr O’Dwyer had taken part in a 24-hour paddleboarding marathon on the Wye with two friends, raising more than £4,000 for Heart Screening in Wales.
But it was only the latest in a long line of fund-raisers he had undertaken.
In 2016, with Lee, Mr O’Dwyer cycled from Swansea to London sleeping rough along the way to raise awareness of homelessness.
Salty Dog Co, a surf clothing business in Aberavon, tweeted: “It is with heavy heart that we say goodbye to our salty dog Paul. A lovely human being taken too soon. Our thoughts and prayers are with your friends and family. You will be missed greatly”.
Mr O’Dwyer was also a member of the Aberavon Green Stars RFC. In a statement shared online, the club said: “It’s been a horrendous 48 hours for our town, a weekend where we’ve lost some of our finest. Paul O’Dwyer, where do we begin? Everything the man did was for the benefit and betterment of others, he really did make the world a better place and has left a legacy of inspiration and hope to those who perhaps didn’t realise they needed it. You’ll be sorely missed by all, Brother.”
In a Facebook post, Neath Port Talbot gym Vitality Health & Fitness said: “It is with deep regret and profound sadness that we learn of the passing of one of our founders Paul O’Dwyer, following a tragic incident in West Wales.
“Words cannot express the feeling of loss our community is feeling today as the town mourns one of life’s unique characters.”