'The army was his life'

Nicknamed Harry Potter at school, Gunner Matthew Psaila, 19, who died after undergoing a military exercise at Chadwick Lakes, was never the macho type as a boy but the army boosted his self-confidence.

"Matthew was an average student but with the army it's like he found his calling; suddenly he had a spring in his step," said his brother Joseph, who is 10 years his senior.

Gunner Psaila lost his battle in the early hours of yesterday. Neither the sophisticated medical equipment nor the dedicated hospital staff could revive the young man, who was brought out of the lake on Friday after spending some 10 minutes underwater and another 20 without a pulse in the ambulance.

A military funeral is scheduled for tomorrow at St John of the Cross parish church, Ta' Xbiex, in 2 p.m., followed by interment in the servicemen's grave at the Santa Maria Addolorata Cemetery. However, all this depends on whether the magistrate releases the body after today's autopsy.

The army yesterday held a memorial service in Gunner Psaila's memory at the Ħal Far Barracks, home of the C Company in which he served. Flags were flying at half mast at the army headquarters and barracks, while the Nationalist Party issued a statement expressing solidarity with the family.

The parents were keen to donate their son's organs but in a bid to save his life he underwent such intensive treatment that this gesture was not possible.

The incident happened at about 10.30 a.m. on Friday, when a team of nine soldiers from C Company, the army's Quick Reaction Force, were undergoing teamwork training, carrying logs and surmounting land and water obstacles.

The soldiers were in full gear, carrying a backpack of some 20kg and their rifle. The team had to wade against the current and go under the bridge, where a two-way road passes overhead.

The family, who are still tormented by questions as to what exactly happened, believe some panic must have ensued when the soldiers were about to go under the bridge, and that is when Gunner Psaila ended up under water.

Another newspaper, It-Torċa, reported that three soldiers, including Gunner Psaila, found themselves in difficulty and also ended up under water. When the supervising soldiers realised this they jumped in to help but nobody seemed to have realised Gunner Psaila was submerged under the bridge, according to the report.

Contacted about this yesterday, the army commander, Brigadier Carmel Vassallo, was not in a position to confirm or deny if any of it happened as an inquiry is under way.

The young man did not know how to swim and questions remain unanswered as to whether his commanding officer was informed of this fact or not. However, sources established that, to enlist with C Company, knowing how to swim is not a prerequisite.

Gunner Psaila enlisted with the army on March 17 and in November he was in the passing out parade, which means he qualified as a regular soldier with the force. Sources said the young man had been deemed to have the right potential and talents to serve in this elite unit.

His uncle, Martin Bugelli, pointed out that this was not a swimming exercise and even good swimmers would have encountered difficulties if they were carrying 20kg on their back and in full gear.

"OK, he was not a swimmer, but would it have helped? This was a wading exercise," Mr Bugelli said, adding that his nephew had a romantic notion of the army.

Mr Bugelli joked that soldiers tended to talk about the army, football, women and cars, but Gunner Psaila was fixated with the army.

Reminiscing about his brother, Mr Psaila, who was like a second father to him, said that once he joined the army, he became physically stronger with a more well-formed character.

"He died doing what he loved most - the army was his life. If he was doing a first aid course for example, he'd rush home and surf the internet to get more information - he was eager to do well," Mr Psaila said.

After a gruelling schedule at the army, Gunner Psaila would return home and continue working out, doing an impossible number of push-ups and sit-ups.

Just last week, Mr Psaila managed to get a chin-up bar installed in his brother's bedroom after being pestered about to do it for a week.

"Matthew was the focal point of the family at home - everybody doted on him," he said in a wistful voice.