Surviving US miner is recovering

Randal McCloy Jr pictured at his wedding in 2001

The only survivor in the US mining accident that killed 12 men is breathing on his own, doctors say.

Randal McCloy Jr, 26, appears to be coming out of a coma, more than two weeks after the accident in West Virginia, said Dr Julian Bailes.

Doctors say Mr McCloy's recovery will take weeks and months rather than days.

Mr McCloy was rescued from the Sago Mine more than 40 hours after the 2 January explosion. The cause of the explosion is still not known.

Doctors say Mr McCloy has been able to move his arms and legs and that his brain stem function remains normal.

They say they hope to move him to a rehabilitation hospital within two weeks.

Mr McCloy is being treated at West Virginia University's Ruby Memorial Hospital.