Natasha Kampush Austrian girl abducted at the age of 10 on March 2, 1998 by Wolfgang Priklopil. Date of Birth: 17.02.1988 Country: Austria

Natasha Kampusch: A Biography

Natasha Kampusch was born in Vienna, Austria, to Brigitta Sirny and Ludwig Koch. She grew up with her mother and stepfather, along with her two adult sisters and several nieces and nephews. Her parents divorced when she was young, but she maintained a relationship with both of them.

On March 2, 1998, at the age of 10, Natasha was kidnapped by Wolfgang Priklopil. She left her home in Vienna to go to school, but never arrived. Witnesses later reported seeing her getting into a white minibus with tinted windows. The minibus had letters G or GF on the license plate, indicating the Gänserndorf district. Despite conflicting witness testimonies, the police initially focused their investigation on white vans.

Extensive searches and investigations were conducted, including the examination of 700 vehicles, but no significant leads were found. It was later discovered that Priklopil, who lived near Gänserndorf, had kidnapped Natasha. He kept her in a small, hidden room beneath his garage, measuring only 5 square meters. The room was locked with three doors, one of which was made of iron. Natasha was not allowed to leave the room at night for the first year of her captivity, and for the first six months, she was confined to the room at all times. She was eventually given more freedom within the house, but still had to return to her room each night or when Priklopil was away.

Natasha was rescued on August 23, 2006, when she managed to escape while Priklopil was distracted. She sought help from a neighbor and was taken to the police. Despite her long captivity, Natasha was found to be in relatively good physical condition. She had not grown much in height and weighed only 48 kg, the same weight she was when she was kidnapped 8 years earlier.

Following her rescue, Natasha gave interviews to various media outlets, including ORF, Kronen Zeitung, and NEWS. She used the media attention to raise awareness about her experiences and to advocate for the rights of other women. She donated the earnings from her interviews to women in Africa and Mexico and planned to start a project to support them.

Natasha's story shocked the world and drew attention to the issue of child abduction and captivity. She has since become an advocate for victims of abuse and has used her platform to speak out against the injustices she endured. Despite the trauma she experienced, Natasha has shown resilience and determination in rebuilding her life and helping others.