Hospital: Daughter of Austrian Incest Victim Awakens From Induced Coma
After a medically induced coma, the 19-year-old Austrian faces more treatment.
June 10, 2008— -- VIENNA, Austria (AP) - A daughter of the Austrian incest victimimprisoned by her father in a cellar for decades has been broughtout of a medically induced coma, a hospital official said Tuesday.
Kerstin Fritzl, one of seven children whom authorities say JosefFritzl has confessed to fathering with his daughter, was brought toa hospital on April 19 unconscious and suffering from anunidentified infection.
She later suffered seizures. In addition to the induced coma,she was placed on a respirator and underwent dialysis because ofthe effects of lack of oxygen.
The 19-year-old woman "has been awakened from the induced comaand was able to leave the intensive care unit several days ago,"said a statement e-mailed to The Associated Press by the centraloffice grouping publicly run hospitals in Lower Austria province.
"The patient continues to need intensive medical ... andtherapeutic care," said the statement, e-mailed by hospitalspokesman Klaus Schwertner. It gave no timeframe for furthertreatment and offered no details as to where the patient now was.
Josef Fritzl is accused of raping his daughter repeatedly whileconfining her to a basement hideaway for 24 years.
Kerstin's hospitalization led to the unraveling of the elaboratecrime when doctors appealed on TV for her mother to come forwardbecause they needed information about the young woman's medicalhistory.
Fritzl then accompanied his daughter, 42-year-old Elisabeth, tothe hospital on April 26 and her story came to light shortly after.
On Friday, authorities decided to extend pretrial custody forFritzl, 73, by another two months. Fritzl was formally placed incustody April 29 and will likely be charged when the investigationis complete.
Three of the children fathered by Fritzl, including Kerstin,were raised in a cellar at his home in the lower Austrian town ofAmstetten, west of Vienna. Three others were brought up aboveground to live with Fritzl and his wife, and one died in infancy.DNA tests confirmed Fritzl is the biological father of the sixsurviving children.
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