[TWIAR] Doctor: Sago survivor awakening from coma

[Williams, Gregory S.]

Randal McCloy 'still has quite a ways to go'

MORGANTOWN, West Virginia (CNN) -- More than two weeks after surviving a
coal mine explosion and 40 hours trapped underground, Randal McCloy is
awakening from his coma, his neurosurgeon said on Wednesday.

"He is opening his eyes," said Dr. Julian Bailes. "He has purposeful
movements. He responds to his family in slight ways. He moves all
extremities."

Bailes said McCloy remains in a "light coma," and, although doctors are
optimistic, he still has "quite a ways to go" in his recovery.

On Tuesday, McCloy, 26, moved out of the intensive care unit at West
Virginia University Hospitals, his doctor, Larry Roberts said.

McCloy and 12 other miners were trapped January 2 after an explosion in West
Virginia's Sago Mine, and rescuers did not reach them for 41 hours. Rescuers
found the body of one of the miners near the location of the explosion;
McCloy and the bodies of the other 11 were found deeper in the mine.

The blast killed one miner immediately and carbon monoxide slowly killed the
others.

McCloy suffered a collapsed lung, dehydration and carbon monoxide poisoning.


After spending three days at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania, McCloy returned to Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, part
of the University Hospitals system.

The miners who died were remembered Sunday at a Buckhannon memorial service
where more than 1,800 people gathered.(Full story)

McCloy's wife, Anna, attended the memorial service and was the first of the
miners' families to light 13 candles of honor. West Virginia first lady
Gayle Manchin handed each family a statue of a coal miner.

Gregory S. Williams
williamsgs at saic.com