Surviving miner still in coma

2006-01-05 22:55

Daniel Lovering

Simpson - The lone survivor of a coalmine explosion that killed 12 others showed some encouraging signs overnight, but had not awakened and was in a coma in West Virginia, said doctors on Thursday.

Dr Lawrence Roberts said Randal McCloy jun was still struggling with the effects of the oxygen deprivation to his vital organs, including his brain.

Doctors said dialysis was performed to continue to filter his blood and his heart gained strength.

Dr John Prescott said: "We have seen some improvement in his cardiac function, some improvement in his pulmonary function", adding that his kidneys also were beginning to work.

McCloy remains critical

McCloy, 26, was rescued early on Wednesday after being trapped in the Sago Mine, near Tallmansville, for more than 42 hours. Twelve other miners died.

He remained in critical condition on Thursday at West Virginia University's Ruby Memorial Hospital.

Roberts said: "A variety of consultants have seen him that all feel that he has had a mild brain injury as a result of oxygen deprivation, and I think time will tell to what extent he recovers from this."

Relatives called McCloy a quiet family man who would likely cringe at his status as the "miracle miner".

McCloy family 'first priority'

They said he didn't like working in the mines, but stuck it out for three years because it enabled him to provide for his wife and two children, four-year-old Randal III and one-year-old Isabel.

Rick McGee, McCloy's brother-in-law and a fellow miner, said: "I know he was fighting to stay alive for his family because his family was his number one priority."

He was the youngest of the 13 miners. Most of the others were in their 50s, and doctors said his youth and health might have helped him.

McGee said: "When most people are drinking pop, he's drinking milk and juice. He's in good shape. That had to have helped him."

McCloy 'a typical guy'

McGee said McCloy liked to pass the time walking in the woods looking for deer. "He is a typical guy, liked hunting, fishing, sports and fast cars."

Ben Hatfield, president and CEO of International Coal Group, which owned the mine, guessed that McCoy might have been deeper in a barricade area that he and 11 other miners created after the explosion early on Monday, and therefore farther from toxic gases. The 13th miner died in another location.

While McGee said he planned to return to mining as soon as he recovered from back surgery, McCloy likely would not.

Green said: "His wife said he's not going back. And she rules."

Anna McCloy, looking pale and exhausted, attended a news conference at the hospital on Wednesday, but didn't answer questions. She said: "Just ask everybody to keep on praying."

- AP