Posted on 01/04/2006 3:03:30 AM PST by PurVirgo
TALLMANSVILLE, W.Va. - In a stunning and heartbreaking reversal, mining officials told family members early Wednesday that 11 of the 12 trapped coal miners initially thought to have survived a mine explosion had died.
The devastating news came more than three hours after Gov. Joe Manchin announced he had been told 12 of the miners survived the disaster. Rescue crews found the first victim earlier Tuesday evening.
"About the confusion, I can't tell you of anything more heart-wrenching than I've ever gone through in my life. Nothing," Manchin said.
The sole survivor of the disaster, identified by mining officials as 27-year-old Randal McCloy, was hospitalized in critical condition early Wednesday, a doctor said. When he arrived, he was unconscious but moaning, the hospital said.
"It's sorrow beyond belief," International Coal Group Chief Executive Officer Ben Hatfield said during a news conference.
Families gathered at the Sago Baptist Church began running out of the church and crying just before midnight, yelling "They're alive!" After two days of keeping vigil, they celebrated joyfully as church bells rang in jubilation.
As an ambulance drove away from the mine carrying what families believed was the first survivor, they applauded, not yet knowing there were no others.
The governor later indicated he was uncertain about the news at first. When word of survivors began circulating through the church, he hadn't heard it, he said.
"All of a sudden we heard the families in a euphoric state, and all the shouting and screaming and joyfulness, and I asked my detachments, I said, 'Do you know what's happening?' Because we were wired in and we didn't know," Manchin said.
Hatfield blamed the wrong information on a "miscommunication." The news spread after people overheard cell phone calls, he said. In reality, rescuers had only confirmed finding 12 miners and were checking their vital signs. But what leaked out to anxious family members was that 12 were found alive.
"That information spread like wildfire, because it had come from the command center," he said.
Three hours later, Hatfield told the families that "there had been a lack of communication, that what we were told was wrong and that only one survived," said John Groves, whose brother Jerry Groves was one of the trapped miners.
"There was no apology. There was no nothing. It was immediately out the door," said Nick Helms, son of miner Terry Helms.
Chaos broke out in the church and a fight started. About a dozen state troopers and a SWAT team were positioned along the road near the church because police were concerned about violence. A Red Cross volunteer, Tamila Swiger, told CNN people were breaking down and suffering panic attacks.
(snip) - Click here to read entire article. ___
Associated Press writers Vicki Smith, Allen G. Breed and Mark Williams in Tallmansville contributed to this report.
I left eastforker's house happy because Fox News reported they were alive, and now I'm simply... stunned.
Advance apologies if this is a duplicate, I did search for this and found nothing.
I feel like someone kicked me in the stomach.
How could this go on for over 3 hours?
Just terrible. Prayers offered.
The media should be hung out to dry. I just don't have a whole lot of faith in journalism anymore.
Well, let us at least hope that they could revive and repair the survivor. Who knows what brain damage might be there from hypoxic [carbon monoxide] condition.
"The media should be hung out to dry. I just don't have a whole lot of faith in journalism anymore"
This is where I am confused right now. Was it the media or the mine officals who messed this up?
Sad outcome.
"Who knows what brain damage might be there from hypoxic [carbon monoxide] condition."
The nurse at the 1st hospital said he tested negative for carbon monoxide. I can't figure out why he was unconscience.
Folks, the media is melting!
The governor later indicated he was uncertain about the news at first. When word of survivors began circulating through the church, he hadn't heard it, he said.I think both are to blame... Officials spoke too soon, and the media jumped on the mis-info like starved animals."All of a sudden we heard the families in a euphoric state, and all the shouting and screaming and joyfulness, and I asked my detachments, I said, 'Do you know what's happening?' Because we were wired in and we didn't know," Manchin said.
Hatfield blamed the wrong information on a "miscommunication." The news spread after people overheard cell phone calls, he said. In reality, rescuers had only confirmed finding 12 miners and were checking their vital signs. But what leaked out to anxious family members was that 12 were found alive.
"That information spread like wildfire, because it had come from the command center," he said.
I'm not so sure it was the media that messed up on this one. Seems the mine officials and even the governor passed on bad info.
How can they f_ck that up?!!!
"Folks, the media is melting"
I realize the media sucks, but this mistake sounds to be the mine foreman. It went on for 3 hours before corrected.
The media seems to be dancing around this issue.
-Eric
But that won't happen. When an investigation is made to find the source of the wrong information you will find that most reporters will state their source was another reporter.
Thus when one reporter gets it wrong and goes with it, other reporters use that false report as the source and go with it too. If the first guy is wrong .. they are all wrong. Then they blame the first reporters source.
"I'm not so sure it was the media that messed up on this one. Seems the mine officials and even the governor passed on bad info."
I'm with you on this one. If the media/reporter didn't report what they heard they would have found no job when they got back to their office.
How could they just let these people be hopeful for 3 hours?
Media reported that 12 survived, even though they never got that information from mine officials or government officials. Both the mining company and the WV government were focused on the rescue mission, not the news reports. The mining company and government were not repsonsible for correcting errors in media if they were not the source of those errors.
bump
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