Sago Mine Survivor UPDATES THREAD

[ziggy]

Bless his heart. It must be very hard to be the only survivor...a mixed blessing.

I'm glad there was at least one happy ending.

 

[jubie]

Miner Randal McCloy Heads Home

CREDIT: DALE SPARKS / AP

Randal McCloy, the lone survivor of the Jan. 2 Sago Mine disaster in West Virginia, is getting out of rehab and going home, McCloy and his wife Anna said on Thursday morning.

"I'd just like to thank everybody for their thoughts and prayers" McCloy said at a morning news conference.

In an interview with Matt Lauer that aired on the Today show Thursday, McCloy said his memory of the tragic events in the mine is "pretty clear," but added, "I really don't want to get into the details of it," for fear of upsetting family members of the 12 miners who didn't make it.

*more at link*

I was kind of hoping he wouldn't remember those last few hours. I imagine the images and sounds coming from his workmates would be horrible. I thought I read he was further away from them though.... from what he says though apparently not.


I'm happy for him and his family but I sure wish there could be twelve more stories just like his.



Jubie

 

[indigomood]

High-Dose Fish Oil Supplied by Dr. Barry Sears Linked to Miner's Amazing Recovery

Many consider it a "miracle" that Randal McCloy returned home two weeks ago. Dr. Julian Bailes, McCloy's neurologist, gives much of the credit to high-dose fish oil developed by Dr. Barry Sears. The fish oil was administered to McCloy as a crucial part of his treatment. See http://www.drsears.com.

"Dr. Sears is our hero," said Dr. Bailes, chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery at the West Virginia School of Medicine. "For me, Barry is the main reason I got interested in the whole essential fatty acid area. I was convinced that DHA (an active component of fish oil) could play a role in McCloy's recovery."

*more at link*

 

[indigomood]

excerpts of a letter sent to victims' families by Randal McCloy Jr.,

To the families and loved ones of my co-workers, victims of the Sago Mine disaster:

The explosion happened soon after the day shift arrived at the mine face on January 2, right after we got out of the man-trip. I do not recall whether I had started work, nor do I have any memory of the blast. I do remember that the mine filled quickly with fumes and thick smoke, and that breathing conditions were nearly unbearable.

*more at link*

 

[AdoraBlue]

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/04-29-2006/0004350635&EDATE=

ATLANTA, April 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Aaron Rents, Inc. today
announced that West Virginia miner Randal McCloy Jr. and seven members of
his family are attending the Aaron's Dream Weekend at Talladega
Superspeedway as special guests of Aaron's Sales and Lease Ownership
President Ken Butler.
Butler extended the invitation to the McCloy family a month earlier
when he learned they were NASCAR fans. Aaron's is the entitlement sponsor
of this weekend's races, and as such is able to provide Randy and his
family with access to events such as the Victory Lane Celebration, the
Driver Meeting, Driver Introductions and more.
As part of his ongoing recovery process, McCloy's doctors have
encouraged him to spend as much time with his family as possible and to
enjoy as much rest and relaxation as he can. According to Ken Butler,
"Aaron's is honored to have Randy and his family as our special guests for
Dream Weekend. They are wonderful people who obviously have been through a lot and they seem so thrilled to be here for their first NASCAR event."

Photo at link.

 

[AdoraBlue]

http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=87836

"When Aaron Rents' officials spotted Randal McCloy Jr.'s Ford Motorsports jacket during a press conference, something moved them. Watching the lone survivor of the Sago Mine explosion and his family on TV sparked the plan to bring McCloy Jr. and seven of his family members to Talladega for the ultimate Aaron's Dream weekend. For NASCAR fans McCloy, 26, and his wife Anna, it was their first trip to a race. Aaron's not only enabled the couple to greet competitors on stage during driver introductions, but offered the McCloy Clan suite passes and grandstand tickets for Saturday and Sunday."

 

[welder 79]

http://www.wvgazette.com/section/News/2006071941 I though some of you like to read this, I had bad feeling about some day or on few day's in a row on way to work when I worked in coal mine's, and about everytime something bad happened that day or within that time period of day's I was feeling like I dreamed this before.. It was like I was in a nightmare and couldn't wake-up so I was lucky and extra carefull on them day's...I talked to 1 of the Sago miner's long time ago I done forgot what we was doing but we was just talking and he told me about 1 nightmare he allway's had and it came true just about word for word... because I remember looking at him and saying Lighting around Christmas Time come on I never seen it do that before!!!..""Crazy as it sound's we was running to the man trip to go inside early so we get out of the Rain and Lighting" This has sure made a believer out of me this type's of dream's really can come true and i only hope we can change them for the better by being extra carefull

 

[welder 79]

I seen part's of that 110 page report but today is the 1st time I read and saw all of it..It's very true everything possible could went wrong did go wrong at Sago...I can't blame no 1 person or 1 company over this accident..I feel there is enough blame to go around for everybody Including myself...We should had and I see no reason why we could not got them Men out of that mine a lot faster within 10 to 12 hour's atleast but it's very easy to look back on what should had been done "Monday morning Quarterback"" than making a life or death call on the spot within a few minute's ..But this accident should never happened to begin with..The system broke down...Way too many safety law's was over looked..They are so many safety rule's in place 1 man can't check or look for all them it's take's a team to watch out for any and all rule's that not in place I even pointed out what I saw was unsafe 1 day to my main boss and it just went in 1 ear and out the other and far as I know it's still never been fixed..I got year's in coal mine's i even got my mine foreman paper's and a wall of school's i been too..but in last 10 year's to me anyway I feel from a boss like i have been before clear to federal and state mine inspecter's.. We was looking more about how fast we could mine coal daily and not so much as Is every man going home tonight safely with out a scratch on him????....When i first started in the coal mine's it was not like that many old timer's grab me out of harm's way and showed me how to work safe and still run a lot of coal but somewhere we have lost this safety process and it has changed to we don't care we going to run coal as fast as we can..Iam retired right now but that money i can make sure look's good some day's and other day's iam glad iam out of the bussiness..

 

[AeroFanRW]

Anna and Randal McCloy, sole survivor of the Sago Mine explosion, are expecting their third child.
The McCloys have a reason to be happy today. Randal McCloy Junior is about to be a father for the third time. McCloy has spent more than eight months undergoing treatment the injuries he suffered at Sago in January of this year. Now we've learned that his wife Anna is pregnant.

More at link

http://wowktv.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=13599&catid=225

 

[englishleigh]

Anna and Randal McCloy, sole survivor of the Sago Mine explosion, are expecting their third child.
The McCloys have a reason to be happy today. Randal McCloy Junior is about to be a father for the third time. McCloy has spent more than eight months undergoing treatment the injuries he suffered at Sago in January of this year. Now we've learned that his wife Anna is pregnant.

More at link

http://wowktv.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=13599&catid=225

I saw that on the news and I got teary. I'm so happy for them!! :woohoo: :clap:

 

[chicoliving]

Two miners whose jobs included watching over safety at the Sago Mine before the deadly explosion last January committed suicide in the past month.

Neither man had been blamed for the disaster that killed 12 of their comrades, and neither one's family has definitively linked the suicides to the accident. But those who knew the men say there is little doubt the tragedy haunted them.

"I'm not sure anybody ever gets over it," said Vickie Boni, the ex-wife of one of them. "You live with it every day."

Both men were working at the Sago Mine on the day of the blast and had been questioned by investigators along with dozens of other witnesses. One former co-worker said at least one of the men felt investigators were treating him as if he had done something wrong.

more at link
http://cbs13.com/topstories/topstories_story_269145744.html

 

[ember]

This is awful! I can't even begin to imagine the pain that they were living with....seems to have been too much....

Two Ex-Sago Miners Commit Suicide Within Days of One Another

Story:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,215890,00.html


ETA: Oops...seems I may have put this on the wrong thread. Please forgive my oversight.

 

[scandi]

That is just so sad to think of these guys committing suicide. I can hardly believe it. Thanks for the article Chico.

I did see an update recently about Randy and think he is doing very well


Hi Welder. Good to see you! Thought you were out lookin' for Sasquatch up in those woods because I haven't seen you for a long time. It's good to read your posts.

I can appreciate what you say about how important teamwork is in your profession. If there ever was a job that is all about teamwork to be safe and successful it is mining. Commercial fishing is an other one and my 2 sons did that up in Alaska. I don't know if the younger guys aren't as interested in doing things the safest way or the older guys are too lax in instructing them, but when the main goal of the company is the $$$'s they make instead of making sure that safety comes first, you know safety is going to come in second.

I'm glad you have retired too Welder. I don't know how anyone could actual go down into a shaft, but then I'm afraid of being in a tight space. Just the thought of it gives me goosebumps! You've devoted your life to mining and then for some reason knew when the right time was to stop going down everyday. With somebody like you that has those years of experience, I would think the Company would ask you to give talks to the new miners and share your tips and stories with them to give them that edge.

God bless the whole community now in dealing with these two men dying. That is such a hard one. Did you know either of them? I know they came from other mines about a year before the explosion last Jan, so you might not.

Thanks for the link Welder. Good to talk to you again.


Scandi

 

[Penelope631]

McCloys Expecting Baby :clap:
[size=-2]Posted Wednesday, August 30, 2006 ; 06:00 PM[/size]

[size=-2]

The McCloys prior to the Sago accident.
Photo Credit: McCloy Family [/size]Anna and Randal McCloy, sole survivor of the Sago Mine explosion, are expecting their third child. The McCloys have a reason to be happy today. Randal McCloy Junior is about to be a father for the third time. McCloy has spent more than eight months undergoing treatment the injuries he suffered at Sago in January of this year. Now we've learned that his wife Anna is pregnant.

http://wowktv.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=13599&catid=226

 

[dingo]

I seen part's of that 110 page report but today is the 1st time I read and saw all of it..It's very true everything possible could went wrong did go wrong at Sago...I can't blame no 1 person or 1 company over this accident..I feel there is enough blame to go around for everybody Including myself...We should had and I see no reason why we could not got them Men out of that mine a lot faster within 10 to 12 hour's atleast but it's very easy to look back on what should had been done "Monday morning Quarterback"" than making a life or death call on the spot within a few minute's ..But this accident should never happened to begin with..The system broke down...Way too many safety law's was over looked..They are so many safety rule's in place 1 man can't check or look for all them it's take's a team to watch out for any and all rule's that not in place I even pointed out what I saw was unsafe 1 day to my main boss and it just went in 1 ear and out the other and far as I know it's still never been fixed..I got year's in coal mine's i even got my mine foreman paper's and a wall of school's i been too..but in last 10 year's to me anyway I feel from a boss like i have been before clear to federal and state mine inspecter's.. We was looking more about how fast we could mine coal daily and not so much as Is every man going home tonight safely with out a scratch on him????....When i first started in the coal mine's it was not like that many old timer's grab me out of harm's way and showed me how to work safe and still run a lot of coal but somewhere we have lost this safety process and it has changed to we don't care we going to run coal as fast as we can..Iam retired right now but that money i can make sure look's good some day's and other day's iam glad iam out of the bussiness..

Hi Welder....my husband is a miner..has been for the last 15 yrs....he works in an open cut mine.. which also has its own dangers.....everytime he arrives home safely from a shift I breathe a sigh of relief.

 

[scandi]

Hi Welder,

Whoops! I thought you had just started this thread LOL, but it doesn't matter. Guess it was meant to be so that I would take time to say Hi to you. Thanks Chico! LOL

Thanks Penelope for the good news. And it is great news, isn't it? After that accident I dreamed that ability would be lost forever, for him to make a baby. See that smile on her face? She is one happy gal and she looks great as she has lost some weight.



Scandi

 

[Sundayrain]

Dingo......I didn't know your husband was a miner. I wonder what the differences are in Australia? I was told recently about the suicides. That is very sad. It is so like a band of brothers, a family of fraternal friends.
The coal dust flows in the blood, from the long hours and hard work involved.
I wonder if these men took on too much of the blame, while most knew it was not their fault.
The push for production ,the cutting of corners, and the use of furloughed mines.
They need a rescue group standing-by, nearby, not 12 hours away.
They needed a better breathing device ......more then 1 hr supply.
I hope they now have a electronic locater, text messageing? Probably not.
It is said they needed concrete barriers instead of foam barriers.
Whats with a belt tunnel that can carry a flame and gases can reach to below? They were to change that.......I wonder if they did?
The bosses are for capitol gain, since the begining of time.
It surely sounds like a freak of nature happened last winter. But, so many steps could have been taken to save those lives.
They go to work there not die there......the risks are so high.
Praying for the families......and praying for improvements that might one day be in place. But, its a long fought battle that seems to not get the full attention it needs. I can only imagine how the miners felt, but......it was so not their faults. So much more needs to be done for safety.
There is a long time,overdue, push for a miners stamp that you can support below.
www.coalminersstamp.com

 

[dingo]

Hi Sunday..........the safety regulations in Australian mines are very strict......but accidents still happen.
The hours are very long and the companies always push for maxium production.....my husband works rotating shifts involving 3 day work ...2 days off then 3 night work....that alone messes with the mind and body.
We live in an area surrounded by at least 40 mines..so accidents happen very regulary here.....if its a bad one they send a rescue helicopter to the site....hearing that helicopter fly over is not a good feeling.

 

[scandi]

Hi Dingo,

Interesting he works in the mines, They mine so many different minerals there, I was curious as to what kind of mine he works in.

I know there is a really well known gold min on the west sidwe of Australia which is done open mining.


Scandi

 

[dingo]

Hi Dingo,

Interesting he works in the mines, They mine so many different minerals there, I was curious as to what kind of mine he works in.

I know there is a really well known gold min on the west sidwe of Australia which is done open mining.


Scandi

HI Scandi...my husband is a coal miner..or black gold as we call it half of the coal mined at his worksite feeds Australian power stations . ..the other half goes to Japan....Australia is rich in minerals...gold being one of them....hubby goes gold prospecting with a gold detector quite often.....hes finding some nice pieces too.