A man and two women have died and another woman is in a critical condition after a group of paddle-boarders got into difficulties on a river in South Wales, police have confirmed.

Emergency services first received reports of people in distress in the Cleddau River in Haverfordwest shortly after 9am on Saturday, and dozens of firefighters, police officers, medics and other experts responded to assist with the search and rescue operation.

“The exact circumstances surrounding the incident are being investigated, but it is believed that the group got into difficulty in the water,” Dyfed-Powys Police said in a statement on Sunday. “Two women and a man died at the scene, and a woman remains in a critical condition in hospital. A further five people were rescued without injury.”

Severe rain had meant the river was flooded and had become turbulent when the group got into difficulties. A member of the public is believed to have entered the water to attempt a rescue, but later got out safely.

Thirty firefighters from Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, including specialist wading crews and swift water rescue technicians, were among those involved in the rescue, police said. Two fire boats were launched to assist with bank and river searches, with crews working closely with Coastguard teams.

The National Police Air Service, Coastguard and Wales Air Ambulance also provided helicopter support, while the Angle RNLI lifeboat was also deployed.

More than 20 police officers also attended the scene, which was cordoned off until about 5pm, the force said, along with paramedics.

The injured woman was taken to Withybush Hospital. No further details about her condition have been released.

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