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Elisabeth Fritzl speaks out
Rex Features
Elisabeth Fritzl, the abused daughter of Josef Fritzl, has finally spoken out about her 24-year ordeal, and says she never wants to see her father again.
As she was reunited with her mother, the 42-year-old reportedly sobbed as she said: 'I can't believe I'm free – is it really you? I can't believe I'm out. I didn't think I would ever see you again. It's all too much for me. I don't ever want to see him again.'
In an emotional day, Elisabeth also saw the three children who were taken away from her to live upstairs with her mother.
Her lawyer, Christoph Herbst, told reporters: 'Elisabeth is very happy to be re-discovering the world. She is very keen to go outside and feel the rain on her skin. But it is important for them to adjust slowly.
'For now they just talk to each other. But Elisabeth and her children who lived in the cellar have no concept of time and of the future. Some people who hear the story think Elisabeth is like something from a horror film. But rumours that she has no teeth and cannot talk are not true.
'If you met her you would not realise what she has been through, as she seems just like every normal person.
'She tells her family that all she longs for is a normal life - or as normal a life as they can get. That's her only wish.'
Her sister, Gabriele, added: 'None of us can believe how normal Elisabeth seems. She is healthy and very chatty and doing very well.
'Every day she gets a bit stronger. I can't say what the family is going through. It's more than anyone can believe. It has devastated us.
'We are working together to support Elisabeth. She is overjoyed to see her children. She told them they were beautiful and she is spending all the time getting to know them.'
Monday 12 May 2008
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Dear Elisabeth
You are a very strong person. Love for you and the kids.
-S
Comment by Sofia on May 15 11:26
What is scary is his arrogance more than anything. What he says about how he saved their lives and could have killed them and no-one would have known. Obviously his urges influenced his decision to keep them alive. It doesn't bear thinking about his reasoning/thinking works.
I'm glad the family is doing well. It's better to move on and get on with living and enjoying life as much as possible.
Comment by Sabrina Brown on May 14 21:02
this is an absolute abomination.
I am even shocked to read the newspapers when they say this satanic individual risk up to 15 years in jails according to Austrian laws. As if it was only an ordinary murder so to speak. We shall all hope he will stay for the rest of his life in solitary confinement and given the fact that he is already old,it will never be enough to pay for this abomination. In any case he has no choice but to stay in jail because a lot of people would kill him right away as soon as he would be out of jail. and problably the inmates in the prison want to kill him as well.
Personally i believe in Karma, so needless to say he has developed a very bad karma for himself for his next lifes to come.
Comment by Patricia on May 14 13:00
My heart goes out to this brave woman - how did she keep sane?? I keep hearing reports of how she gave painful birth on the floor of the dungeon, covered in blood, only 2 feet away from her 2 elder siblings!! No one to console her, give her painkillers, help her through the trauma, and how on earth did she cope in checking and expelling her own afterbirth, we usually get an injection as soon as we pass the baby - to help us expel the afterbirth, and how on earth did she manage to heal enough ready for the next rape and conception?? The mind boggles - she truly is an example of human tragedy but with a strong will to live!!! At least the children didn't know of an outside world full of light and sun, but Elisabeth did. I hope her father never gets let out again - and I hope he gets to live a solitary life in a tiny cell. Hanging would be too good for him - let him live on bread and water in a dark cell. My daughter is 23 in June, I can honestly say poor Elisabeth has been hidden away in a cellar all through my daughter's life and at her conception - I truly don't know how I would have fared in that situation!!! God bless that woman and hope she will forgive and move on - she cannot live in hatred of her father, but I don't know how she will forgive in her situation.
Comment by Cate on May 13 15:14
When this story first came out I wasn't quite sure I was hearing right. A father, keeping his daughter locked up like an animal for over 20 years and forcing her to have 7 of his children. I pray for the daughter still in hospital sick and hope that these people can make a life for themselves, though after so long in the dark it's going to take time.
What concerns me is this particular case is becoming almost common in Austria and people are none the wiser. Her father should die in prison...and as for blaming Hitler for why he done such an atrocious thing, all I can say is change the record!
Comment by Hannah on May 12 23:51
there are not enough words to express how vile this man is, and so calculating, controling, and cruel. blessings to the kids and grandkids
Comment by cjmunro on May 12 20:35
With deep consideration of recent events for the Fritzls, I think an incident of this calibre shows how sick and out of control our society is becoming, and has become. God can only know what Mr. Fritzl's plans were to be with his three dungeon children, but it shows a great lack, and horrifying lack of humanity and morality. This has placed a reflection, not solely on Austrian society but how we as a race need to be more aware of what is happening around us.
It’s revolting to imagine what could coax a human being to occupy such disgusting actions; I hope this that unimaginable discovery does not repeat itself.
Mr. Fritzl has placed himself in the history books, an evil soul, bearing column space on our newspapers. He is a disgrace to the human race and Austrian society, and it is beyond belief what he has done to several young people's lives. He is a sick man, and i hope he pays for his actions.
Comment by Hannah C, aged 17 on May 12 19:23
I still can't believe that no-one knew Elisabeth and children were imprisoned, where on earth did her mother (and now I discover she has a sister) think the children came from when Josef the monster brought the children into the family home that he took from Elisabeth. The man should remain in prison for the rest of his life, confined to one room for ever more, then see how he copes.
Comment by Kas on May 12 14:12
What has happened to Elisabeth and her children is horrific and something you would only see on telly, not in real life. I can't believe anyone could be callous enough to do that. My heart goes out to Elisabeth and the family, but as for the evil Josef...I would lock him in his 'manmade' dungeon for the rest of his life and let him suffer like Elisabeth and the children have done.
Comment by Chris on May 12 13:44
So why is her father not put in a dungeon also? Let him feel how she did. He is still 'getting away with it'
Comment by Brenda Howard on May 12 10:02
As a frequent visitor to rural Austria, to visit my family who live/work there, I have to say that this man appears to have an attitude not dis similar to that which I have observed frequently.....not the incest, that I have never had any inkling of , but there is a paternalistic arrogance amongst the rural Austrians which is very noticable.
Women are most certainly treated as subservient , man is ruler of his family, sometimes this extends to impoverished relations, all a bit Victorian really.My Austrian daughter in law perpetuates this by being the perfect hausfrau, even as a toddler in the UK, discipline of my grandson was left to his Dad, unlike the treatment of my Granddaughter.
I hasten to add.. they are a hugely happy and successful family, of whom I am enormously proud.
Comment by Di Jones on May 12 09:40
i hope the father gets life in prison as thats a very sick thing to do what he has done. when i read the story in paper i was so upset was such a horrible story and i just hope the daughter and children can get back to some normality bless them
Comment by sarah dixon on May 12 09:38
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