The 22-year-old private from the 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh Regiment, named last night as Gavin Williams, from Hengoed, Mid Glamorgan, had reportedly been ordered to wear full gear while carrying heavy weights for the “beasting” as temperatures reached 28C (82F) on Monday.

Four NCOs and an officer from the Tidworth Barracks in Salisbury were being questioned by Wiltshire police yesterday after being arrested on suspicion of manslaughter.

The death of Private Williams has increased concerns about the bullying of army recruits and the tradition of unauthorised punishments.

Friends said that the soldier, known to his friends as Will, had squirted officers with a fire extinguisher on Saturday night following a drinking session after England’s World Cup defeat. Instead of sending him before his commanding officer, a more junior officer allegedly decided that he should be punished “informally” with a rigorous session of physical activity.

After 20 minutes of running around the barracks perimeter, Private Williams collapsed unconscious. Although he came round briefly, he was in a heated and agitated state and died later in Salisbury hospital.

A friend claimed yesterday that he was “beasted” by senior non-commissioned officers.

“What they did to Will was payback for a stupid joke. They disciplined him until he died,” the 18-year-old woman said.

“You’d have thought they would have a sense of humour about it, but on the Monday they got their own back by beasting him. They made him exercise in the scorching heat and carry loads of heavy weights. I’m not sure if it was the same men that he squirted but a group of them made him work really hard.

“He begged them to stop — he thought he would collapse — but they carried on. About lunchtime he collapsed and was taken to the Queen Elizabeth medical centre on site and then to Salisbury hospital.”

A medical source said: “The lad had been taken in by fellow soldiers and was not breathing, but still had a faint pulse. He was extremely hot and had collapsed as a result of the heat.”

Senior officers insisted yesterday that this sort of practice, widespread 30 years ago, was now frowned on because of the risks involved. Commanding officers and regimental sergeant-majors were supposed to keep a close eye on practices of this kind.

The soldier’s friend claimed that she had met up with him at a club called Sticky’s in Amesbury, Wiltshire. “Will had had quite a bit to drink. We were all having a really good time at the club and returned to the barracks about 2.30am on Sunday,” she said. “Will’s room was near the officers’ mess and they were having some sort of do that night. He got a fire extinguisher and squirted them as a joke.”

The death of the soldier has highlighted a tradition believed to be unauthorised, under which platoon or company commanders decide to take action without reference to the regiment’s commanding officer in cases where it is judged that a disciplinary offence can be dealt with informally with physical exertion.

Sabrina Pritchard, a childhood friend, described Private Williams as “an absolutely brilliant guy”.

She said: “He was always up for a laugh and looked out for his friends. He had one of the best laughs ever. Most people spent more time laughing at his laugh than at his jokes.”

Ms Pritchard, 22, who grew up up on the same street as Private Williams, said that he was a sociable man who loved football and Manchester United.

“It still hasn’t hit me yet that he’s gone,” she added.

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