CELEBRITY STYLE SPY: See all the latest celeb photos

Kerstin Fritzl reunited with family

By Ruth Doherty on Tuesday 10 June 2008

Print
Share
Comment

Marie Claire News: Fritz cellar

Kerstin Fritzl has been reunited with her mother, Elisabeth, after waking up from a seven-week coma.

It was the first time the 19-year-old had met her family outside the cramped dungeon where she has spent her entire life captive at the hands of Josef Fritzl - her father and grandfather.

The incest offender kept his daughter, Elisabeth, as his personal sex slave in a dungeon below his house for 24 years, and fathered her seven children. Kerstin, Stefan, 18 and Felix, five, lived in the dungeon together, while Lisa, 15, Moniker, 14, and Alexander, 12, were moved to live upstairs with Fritzl and his wife Rosemarie. A seventh child, Michael, died shortly after birth and Josef burned his body in an incinerator.

Kerstin has been in a medically-induced coma since she was freed from the cellar on 19 April, when Fritzl agreed to let her go to hospital. She was suffering with multiple organ failure due to oxygen deficiency caused by never experiencing fresh air, light, decent food and exercise.

As soon as it was clear Kerstin was awake again, doctors moved her to a special medical ward at Amstteten Regional Clinic to be reunited with her mother and brothers in a special room designed to look like the cellar she has known all her life.

The family are expected to stay in their specially-designed clinic for several months while they adjust to living in the outside world.

Meanwhile, Rosemarie, who was led to believe daughter Elisabeth had run away to join a religious sect, is reportedly gaining strength after suffering ill health upon learning the news of her husband’s secret sex dungeon.

Tuesday 10 June 2008

Have your say ...

Add your own comment

Dr Albert Reiter who treated Kerstin, and was not fooled by Josef Fritzl, should receive the highest honour, if it was not for him, this family would not have been discovered!
Comment by fuller Walker on June 10 12:03

This is an extreme case of manipulation of other dependants, but we all have to learn from this not only to avoid exploiting people but also not to let others doing so. Likewise, over-exploiting animals or nature to our own benefit or, worse, entertainment, unconsciously or even consciously is a disastrous practice. Love and care is one thing, but possession is totally another.
Dear Kerstin, there are people who suffer much along with you because things like this still happen in the modern world and who wish to do something to comfort you and your brave family. You all have our love and sympathy as the least we are able to do for you.
Comment by Anna George on June 10 16:44

We all wish this family the best in life and adjusting to a new world for them.
Socorro
Comment by socorro on June 11 16:30

Yes I agree with fuller walker... Dr Reiter does deserve the highest honour...
Comment by guenivere on June 25 04:35