It wasn’t a fancy US homecoming, just some red balloons, handmade signs, a lot of hugs and his wife’s home-made lasagne - but it was everything the only survivor of the Sago Mine disaster wanted after a three-month recovery that continues to amaze doctors.

The lone survivor of a US coal mine explosion that killed 12 showed some encouraging signs overnight, but had not woken and was in a coma, doctors said today.

Thirteen coal miners in West Virginia remained trapped 260 feet below ground today, after an explosion that may have been triggered by lightning.