Soldiers enlisted in the army's elite C Company need to have the ability to "negotiate water obstacles" and, yet, the gunner who died during a military training exercise was unable to swim.

Even though C Company members are primarily land soldiers, a spokesman for the army confirmed "there is a requirement for C (Special Duties) Company soldiers to be able to negotiate water obstacles when moving across the country".

Even though the military jargon does not specifically refer to the ability to swim, loosely translated it meant soldiers had to be able to swim and wade through water, according to a former senior army officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

However, it is unclear whether soldiers are required to be able to swim before joining the unit or whether they can attain the ability during their training process.

The army spokesman said soldiers "may enlist for training in overcoming obstacles, including water, and in flood relief assistance" when asked whether personnel are given training in swimming.

When Gunner Matthew Psaila was involved in an accident at Chadwick Lakes last Friday, his unit was "negotiating a water obstacle". He was wading through the lakes, which can reach depths of nearly two metres, against the current in an exercise where soldiers are required to carry a log together.

Relatives have gone on record saying Gunner Psaila was unable to swim and had feared the water since childhood.

It is unclear what went wrong in the exercise but Gunner Psaila is believed to have ended up under the water and remained submerged for nearly 10 minutes before his comrades realised it and found him. He remained unconscious for more than 48 hours before dying at Mater Dei Hospital on Sunday night.

A military funeral will be held today at St John of the Cross parish church, Ta' Xbiex, at 2 p.m., followed by interment at the servicemen's grave at the Santa Maria Addolorata Cemetery.

His death has left many questioning why a person unable to swim was allowed to form part of the army's elite unit, whose duties also include flood relief assistance.

The former senior army officer said the soldiers were probably in an Indian file (lined one after the other) when the accident happened.

"It is bad if the officers responsible for the gunner's unit knew he could not swim but still allowed him to be the last in line," he said.

He explained that the training schedule for the C Company was more demanding than for other units in the military because it is the army's frontline unit. "Not anybody can make it and I am sure the selection process is rigorous but, with hindsight, given the duties the company has to perform, the ability to swim should be a prerequisite for all soldiers enlisting to join," the former officer said.

He insisted that in a potential rescue operation a person unable to swim would be a "danger" to other members of the unit.

The C Company is the army's quick reaction force capable of providing trained soldiers to intervene in high-risk operations or scenarios. Personnel can also be detailed to serve abroad as part of an EU-led crisis management force.

In line with Malta's pledge to the EU, the army's role in any mission is limited to humanitarian and rescue missions.

"In conducting humanitarian missions C Company personnel are expected to relieve or reduce the results of natural or man-made disasters," the army spokesman said.

Opposition spokesman for the army, Joe Debono Grech yesterday in Parliament expressed his condolences to the Psaila family.