The sole survivor among a dozen miners trapped underground for 41 hours after the Sago Mine Disaster issued a statement Wednesday, as the 10th anniversary of the disaster nears.
In his statement, Randal McCloy Jr. said, "The date of Jan. 2 is difficult for me and my family every year. My wife, Anna, and I think of the families and loved ones of my co-workers and friends who were the victims of the Sago Mine Disaster, and we pray for God's grace to find them and comfort them as they remember."
Twenty-nine miners were underground at the Sago Mine when an explosion occurred on Jan. 2, 2006. Of those, 16 escaped the mine. One miner was killed by the force of the explosion, and 12 others waited inside the mine to be rescued. When rescuers reached those miners, 11 were dead; only McCloy was alive.
"After all these years, I do not understand why I was spared, but I praise God every day, for He is amazing. I truly believe it was the power of love from my wife and our family, as much as it was the power of prayer by so many people throughout West Virginia, across the country and around the world. Your kindness and the generosity in your prayers has always meant so much to me, and will be with me for the rest of my life," McCloy said.
"Today, Anna and I have six beautiful children and we are grateful for our life together. I could never begin to explain how grateful I am to be here to experience the joy of this family.
"While the miracle of my unexplained survival was 10 years ago, I will never - ever - forget the men with whom I worked who did not survive. And I carry them with me in my heart every day."