Eldest Fritzl daughter reunited with her family

THE eldest child from the incestuous relationship between Austrian Josef Fritzl and his daughter Elisabeth has been reunited with her family after recovering from an induced coma.

Doctors said yesterday the whole family — Elisabeth and the six surviving of seven children she bore while locked in a cellar for 24 years — had moved into a house on the hospital grounds to promote a normal living environment.

Fritzl, 73, in custody since April, held Elisabeth, now 42, in a soundproofed basement under his house in Amstetten.

“The reunion of (Elisabeth’s eldest daughter) Kerstin with her family a few days ago was a moving moment, and for us the surprising recuperation of Kerstin was a great relief,” Berthold Kepplinger, director of the hospital said.

Kerstin was expected to make a “full recovery.”

The case came to light two months ago after Kerstin fell seriously ill and was brought to the hospital by Fritzl.

Kerstin, 19, who was placed into an artificial coma after suffering cramping fits due to oxygen deficiency and kidney problems, awoke on May 15. After therapy to restore mobility, she rejoined her family on Sunday.

Albert Reiter, the family’s doctor, escorted Kerstin into her new home.

“It was an extraordinary moment for me last Sunday when Kerstin, holding my arm, and I were able to walk through the door into a new home, crossing the threshold into a new life.”

Kerstin said after wakening that she wanted most of all to go on a cruise and attend a concert by British pop star Robbie Williams.

“When she was still in bed attached to tubes, she listened to Robbie Williams until 3am, until I had to put a bit of a dampener on it,” said Reiter.

“But that was the point in time where I said we should go ahead with steps to get her mobile.”

Family lawyer Christoph Herbst said Elisabeth did not plan to discuss the case in public and urged international media to let the family build a normal life.