A TEENAGE Army recruit told yesterday how he tried to save a friend from drowning in the icy waters of an underground cave.
Non-swimmer Kevin Shar man, 17, drowned in a partially-submerged tunnel in the Brecon Beacons.
Civilian instructor Matthew Doubtfire, 33, of Rockfield Road, Monmouth, denies his manslaughter through gross negligence.
At Swansea Crown Court, Darren Thurwell, 18, told how panic spread through the small group as it unexpectedly hit deep water in a narrow underground tunnel.
He said: "I could see the people in front of me were having difficulty. Someone's helmet was about five inches below the water. I grabbed his arm and tried to pull him up.
"Someone bumped into me and knocked my grip off the arm. I could not see at the time who it was below the surface. I later learned it was Kevin."
Proceeding
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