Sole survivor of West Virginia mine explosion becomes father

West Virginia mine explosion killed 12 miners and only the one survived. He is a father for the third time now.

Photo: Sole survivor of West Virginia mine explosion becomes father

Sago mine survivor Randal McCloy Jr.'s wife, Anna, gave birth to Isaac Martin McCloy at a Clarksburg hospital Thursday, her husband's birthday. The 6-pound, 5-ounce (2.72 kilogram) boy is 19 inches (48.26 centimeters) long and was resting comfortably with his mother Thursday afternoon, family spokeswoman Aly Goodwin Gregg said.

"He's just beautiful," she said. "He looks just like Randy."

McCloy, 27, of Simpson, was the only man on a 13-member crew to survive the Jan. 2, 2006, explosion and prolonged entrapment at the underground coal mine near Buckhannon. He inhaled carbon monoxide for more than 41 hours, and doctors have never been able to fully explain why only the youngest of the miners survived.

McCloy still suffers some vision and hearing impairment, as well as continuing weakness on the right side. He finished physical therapy at a rehabilitation center last summer and now strength-trains at home.

The McCloys' older children are 5-year-old Randal III and 2-year-old Isabel.