Devastating Twist: 12 Miners Dead
Families Celebrate For Hours Before Learning Of Deaths
UPDATED: 12:08 pm EST January 4, 2006

TALLMANSVILLE, W.Va. --

As the only survivor remains hospitalized, the last of a dozen bodies has
been pulled from the Sago coal mine in West Virginia.

The bodies were found more than 42 hours after an explosion trapped the
miners.

There was a tragic miscommunication around midnight, when word spread
that one miner had died and the dozen others were alive. Three hours later,
the families were told only one man survived.

The bodies were found together behind a curtain-like barrier they set up to
keep out carbon monoxide gas. It doesn't appear the explosion killed them.

The lone survivor is identified as Randal McCloy, a 27-year-old resident
of Simpson, W.Va.. His condition is listed as critical. McCloy is in critical
condition in a Morgantown, West Va., hospital, where he's under sedation
and on a ventilator.

A doctor said McCloy was unconscious but moaning when he was taken
from the Upshur County mine to Ruby Memorial Hospital. He said McCloy
is responding to stimuli.

McCloy's father-in-law said he was "still devastated" when he found out
McCloy was the only survivor, saying his heart goes out to the other families.

Ben Hatfield, CEO of Sago Mine owner International Coal Group, told
reporters Wednesday morning that initial reports from a rescue team
indicated there were "multiple survivors." He said that turned out to
wrong, blaming a "miscommunication."

Hatfield said the rumor of survivors "spread like wildfire" but noted that
mine officials had never confirmed it.

Relatives had broken out in screams of joy when word of a rescue came from
West Virginia's governor. That was replaced by abject sorrow and anger.

The son of one of the 12 miners found dead said there was "no apology" and
"no nothing" when officials told them there relatives were dead.

The rescuers found a barricade and determined that the miners had donned
their breathing masks. It's not clear how long they lived.

The company news conference announcing the miscommunication didn't occur
until after 3 a.m. -- more than three hours after families had started celebrating
the misconception that their loved ones were alive.

Witnesses said after people were given the bad news about the others, one
relative became enraged and lunged at an official. The incident happened at a
Baptist church where relatives had gathered. Family members had to wrestle
the aggrieved man to the ground.

Federal officials are expressing sorrow over the deaths and are promising a full
investigation.

Before the incorrect announcement of the 12 survivors, rescuers had found one
body Tuesday.

Distributed by Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc. The Associated Press
contributed to this report. All rights reserved.
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