An Argentinian man has been arrested on suspicion of having seven children with his own daughter after raping her over the course of two decades, it has been reported.

According to El Tribuno, the 56-year-old man was arrested when his daughter, now 31, attended a medical appointment with one of her children. When the doctors inquired as to who the child’s father was, she explained that he was her own biological father too.

Authorities were reportedly contacted and the woman then allegedly revealed to police that she had been raped from the age of 9 and had conceived six other children as a result of the abuse. She reportedly said the abuse began when her mother died and her father told her that she had to take on the role of his ‘new wife’.

The woman reportedly told local media: “He abused me from the age of nine. He would hit me and used to chase me round the house with a lump of wood when he saw me chatting to neighbours or simply wanted to abuse me.

“He threatened me constantly and I always feared for my life. He told me he would kill me if I said anything.

“I’m scared for my life and the life of my children because today I’m receiving threats from my father’s siblings to withdraw my complaint against him.

“They’re not at all concerned about what’s happened.

“I want him to rot in jail. I want justice to be done.”

Argentinian police say a warrant was issued for his arrest last month, but the man evaded authorities by going into hiding. He was found and arrested this week after an extensive search operation.

The alleged abuse is said to have taken place in the resort village of Las Termas de Rio Hondo. The woman claims that several of the children were forced to witness the attacks.