The only survivor of a West Virginia coal mining accident that killed 12 men earlier this month has awoken from his coma and is responding to his family.
Randal McCloy (26) has opened his eyes and is chewing and swallowing food and responding to relatives and commands, said Dr Julian Bailes, chief of neurosurgery at West Virginia's Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, where Mr McCloy was being treated.
"He has progressively improved and . . . every day he's been improving," he said.
Twelve men died after the blast on January 2nd at International Coal Group's Sago coal mine in Tallmansville, which set off a lengthy underground rescue operation hampered by high levels of carbon monoxide.
It was West Virginia's worst mining disaster since 1968 and made more poignant by initial reports saying 12 of the men had survived, prompting three hours of jubilation that turned to despair when family members learnt the truth.
Mr McCloy survived nearly 42 hours underground before he was rescued and has been unconscious for the three weeks since. Doctors said his exposure to carbon monoxide had caused organ failure and the coma.
Mr McCloy had not yet spoken, but his doctors remained "cautiously optimistic" about his long-term recovery prospects.