How Natascha Kampusch Survived Eight Years In Captivity

2026-04-15

Download

On March 2, 1998, 10-year-old Austrian girl Natascha Kampusch disappeared on her way to school. What followed was 3,096 days in captivity, hidden inside a soundproof cellar, cut off from the outside world and shaped by fear, control, and a deeply complex psychological dynamic with her captor. Journalist Rahni Sadler spent a lot of time getting to know Natascha, interviewing her in 2011 and again in 2016, and even visiting the house where she was held. In this...

On March 2, 1998, 10-year-old Austrian girl Natascha Kampusch disappeared on her way to school.

What followed was 3,096 days in captivity, hidden inside a soundproof cellar, cut off from the outside world and shaped by fear, control, and a deeply complex psychological dynamic with her captor.

Journalist Rahni Sadler spent a lot of time getting to know Natascha, interviewing her in 2011 and again in 2016, and even visiting the house where she was held. In this episode, she offers insight into Natascha’s story - revealing the quiet strength, nuance, and resilience behind one of the most confronting cases in modern history.....

LINKS

Find more of Rahni's work here.

If any of the contents in this episode have caused distress, know that there is help available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.

GET IN TOUCH

Want us to cover a case on the podcast? Email us at truecrime@mamamia.com.au or send us a voice note.

Make sure to leave us a rating and review on Apple & Spotify to let us know how you're liking the episodes.

CREDITS

Guest: Rahni Sadler

Host: Gemma Bath

Senior Producer: Tahli Blackman

Group Executive Producer: Ilaria Brophy

Video Editor: Julian Rosario

Audio Engineer: Jacob Round

Mamamia acknowledges the traditional owners of the land on which we have recorded this podcast.

Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe