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KEEPING THEM SAFE

Who are Elisabeth Fritzl’s children?

ELIZABETH FRITZL'S ordeal at the hands of her father has gone down as one of the most disturbing crimes in history.

Here, we look at what happened and who her children are.

An 18-year-old Elisabeth Fritzl was kidnapped by her own father
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An 18-year-old Elisabeth Fritzl was kidnapped by her own fatherCredit: Collect

Who are Elisabeth Fritzl's children?

Elisabeth Fritzl had seven children fathered by her sick dad Josef Fritzl as he held her captive in the basement of her family home in Anstetten, Austria.

Kerstin, the eldest, was born on August 30, 1988.

Elisabeth gave birth to her alone in the dark of the basement with just a self-help pregnancy book for guidance.

Stefan followed on February 1, 1990, Lisa on August 29, 1992),and Monika arrived on February 26, 1994.

READ MORE ON JOSEF FRITZL

On April 28, 1996, Elisabeth gave birth to twins, Alexander and Michael, with Michael dying at just three days old.

Then on December 16, 2002, she gave birth to her youngest son Felix.

She gave birth to all her children in the basement.

How many of Elisabeth's children were held hostage?

Elisabeth was held captive with three of her children.

Kerstin, Stefan and Felix spent their entire lives in the cellar until they were freed in 2008.

Her other children were brought up by Fritzl and Elisabeth's mother Rosemarie.

Fritzl led his wife to believe that they were left at the doorstep by their “missing” daughter, who was unable to care for them.

Elisabeth's third child, Lisa, was the first to be raised above ground.

Monika followed and finally surviving twin Alexander was brought upstairs to live.

Rosemarie remained unaware that her daughter was locked up in the basement until Elisabeth and her children were freed on April 26, 2008.

Elisabeth, who was then 42, was allowed by Fritzl to take her eldest to hospital after she became seriously ill and was then able to reveal her ordeal.

Where are her children now?

Under new identities, Elisabeth moved with her six surviving children to a tiny hamlet in the Austrian countryside.

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It is only referred to by the country's media as Village X.

The children, who as of February 2023 are aged between 20 and 34, sleep in rooms with doors permanently open after undergoing weekly therapy sessions to eliminate the traumas they suffered inside the cellar.

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