'Trainees told to face their fears'

Instructor Matthew Doubtfire, 33, of Rock-field Road, Monmouth, denies the manslaughter of Private Kevin Shar-man, of Derbyshire, by gross negligence during a trip to the Porth Yr Ogof cave at Ystradfellte.

Swansea crown court heard yesterday that 17-year-old Private Kevin Sharman, who was taking part in adventure training, could not swim and that his caving instructor knew this. And the court heard that a second instructor had dropped out of the trip at the last minute because of illness.

Samuel Taylor, 18, a friend of Private Sharman and on the same course at Sennybridge army base, told how Doubtfire had taken 11 recruits, who had earlier been warned they would "face their dragons", into the cave on July 22, 2002.

He said there were signs in the car park, warning of the dangers of deep water in the resurgence pool of the cave, and that many people had died there.

Mr Taylor said Doubtfire told them they would not be going anywhere near it. He said Doubtfire arranged the group so that the non-swimmer, Private Sharman, was right behind him, followed by himself, a weak swimmer, and then the strongest swimmers.

As they entered the cave, he said, the water began to get higher until it was shoulder height, and that the chill "knocked my breath away". At a ledge, it appeared Doubtfire and Private Sharman had jumped into the water and Mr Taylor followed.

His friend, he said, "seemed like he was in trouble. His arms were flailing all over the place and his head kept bobbing under water".

Mr Taylor said Private Sharman grabbed Doubtfire and they both went under. When he came back up, Mr Taylor said, his friend turned around and they grabbed hold of each other, both going under water. Only Mr Taylor resurfaced.

Doubtfire shouted to the others to get back, before diving back in to look for Private Sharman.

The teenager's body was later recovered by a rescue team.

Proceeding.