THE story of Wolfgang Priklopil and Natascha Kampusch is one of both unimaginable horror and extraordinary resilience.
Natascha’s escape from her eight-year captivity sheds light on the reality of her abduction and the complexities of survival.
Who was Wolfgang Priklopil?
Wolfgang Priklopil was an Austrian man who abducted Natascha Kampusch, a 10-year-old Austrian girl whom he held captive for over eight years.
Priklopil was born on May 14, 1962, in Vienna, Austria, and worked as a communications technician.
On March 2, 1998, Priklopil abducted Natascha while she was walking to school in Vienna.
He lured her into his white van and took her to his house in Strasshof, a small town near the capital.
There, he imprisoned her in a secret, soundproof cellar hidden beneath his garage.
This cellar, which measured only about five square metres (53 square feet), would become Kampusch’s prison for more than eight years.
During her captivity, Priklopil exerted near-total control over her life.
She was kept in the tiny room for long periods of time and was only allowed limited contact with the outside world.
Over the years, Priklopil gradually gave her slightly more freedom within the house, but her movements were always restricted and closely monitored.
Despite the harsh conditions, Natascha later described their relationship as complex, revealing that Priklopil was not constantly violent but rather tried to manipulate and control her emotionally as well.
What happened to Wolfgang Priklopil?
On August 23, 2006, after more than eight years in captivity, Natascha managed to escape.
While she had been cleaning his car in the garden, she took the opportunity to run away, when he was distracted by a phone call.
She found help at a nearby house, and her ordeal finally came to an end.
Just hours after her escape, Priklopil took his own life.
Faced with the realization that his crime would now be exposed, he fled to Vienna and committed suicide.
However, after the alleged suicide of Priklopil, two coroners who examined the case files determined that he might have been murdered.
It is claimed that Priklopil was already dead when his body was put on the railway tracks.
His death left many unanswered questions, but it marked the conclusion of one of Austria’s most shocking criminal cases.
You're Not Alone
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide
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It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
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If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
- CALM, www.thecalmzone.net, 0800 585 858
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What happened to Natascha Kampusch?
Following her escape, Natascha faced a complicated adjustment to life outside captivity.
Her story garnered worldwide media attention, and she used her experience to raise awareness about abduction and trauma.
She wrote several books, including a memoir titled 3,096 Days, which details her experiences during captivity and her struggles to reclaim her life afterward.
After Priklopil’s suicide on the day of her escape, Natascha faced further public scrutiny, including accusations against her family.
She took ownership of the house where she had been held captive, feeling that it was important to reclaim that space instead of leaving it as a grim reminder of her past.
Although she now owns the house, she has chosen not to live in it.
Over the years, she has opened up about the difficulties of reintegrating into society, describing social situations as overwhelming and preferring to stay home.
In a 2020 interview, she shared her struggles with fame, stating that the constant recognition from others can be distressing.
She said:“The regular contact with fellow students was really a horror scenario for me.
“I like to stay at home on my own, waiting for the day I’m not so famous and no one will recognise me.
“Alternatively, I like to go out in stormy weather when it’s raining and I can have a big umbrella I can hide behind.”