Miner fights to stay alive

2006-01-05 11:01

Simpson - The youngest of the miners, the sole survivor of the mining disaster is a quiet religious man who risked the dangers of working underground - even though he is a licensed electrician - to earn more money for his family.

Randal McCloy jun, 26, "was looking to get out" after working in the Sago Mine for three years, according to his wife, Anna. "It was too dangerous."

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

McCloy remained in critical condition on Wednesday, but was able to squeeze his wife's hand from his bed at West Virginia University's Ruby Memorial Hospital, said Dr Lawrence Roberts.

"Having been laying still for so many hours and being poorly hydrated for that period of time has resulted in some kidney dysfunction," said Roberts. "We assume that will be a temporary phenomenon while the kidneys recover."

At one point, Roberts said McCloy's blood pressure, heart rate and other laboratory tests were relatively normal, but he said on Wednesday evening that McCloy was experiencing problems related to oxygen deprivation that affected his heart, liver, kidneys and perhaps his brain.

A CT scan did not show that McCloy had any brain injuries, but doctors do not know yet how a lack of oxygen may have affected his brain function, said Roberts.

Treatment

McCloy was undergoing dialysis and doctors were also trying to inflate a collapsed lung. He was sedated to prevent him from removing a tube inserted in his throat to ease his breathing.

Because of the tube, McCloy cannot talk, but he is responding to his wife with facial expressions and by squeezing her hand, said Roberts.

His lung is expanding but Roberts was unsure when the breathing tube would be removed.

McGee said he also held McCloy's hand when he visited the hospital.

Pat Miles, McCloy's aunt, described her nephew as a quiet man except around family. "He's a very loving father," Miles said. "He took care of his kids. He took care of his wife."

Wife exhausted

Anna McCloy, looking pale and exhausted, attended the media conference at the hospital, but did not answer questions.

"Just ask everybody to keep on praying," she said.

It was the state's deadliest mining accident since November 1968, when 78 men died in an explosion at a mine in Marion County.

Gayle Manchin, wife ofGovernor Joe Manchin, spent time with the McCloys on Wednesday.

"I'm here today with the one miracle that came out of this," the first lady said, adding that mining and mine tragedies are part of the state's identity.

"Unfortunately, this is part of West Virginia history," she said.

McGee said everyone knew McCloy wanted to leave the mine. Now he may get his wish.

"His wife said he's not going back," said McCloy's father-in-law, Charles Green.

- AP