A Spanish woman who was kidnapped as a child and held for 10 months in Bolivia has spoken publicly about her survival strategy. Nada Itrab, now 21, was nine years old when a family friend, Grover Morales, took her from Barcelona to Bolivia under the pretence of a holiday. She was found in the rainforest nine months later.
Nada, a law student at Barcelona University, said she survived by staying calm and observing her captor's behaviour. 'I tried not to anger him. I did what he said, but I also looked for opportunities to escape,' she explained. She kept a mental note of landmarks and people she saw, hoping to use the information later.
During her captivity, Nada was moved between locations, including remote areas of the Bolivian rainforest. She was often hungry and scared but focused on small routines, like counting days, to maintain her sanity. 'I told myself I would see my family again. That belief kept me going,' she said.
Nada's rescue came after a tip-off to Bolivian authorities. She was found alive but malnourished and traumatised. Morales was arrested and later convicted of kidnapping. Nada now campaigns against child trafficking, saying she wants to use her experience to help others.
