Austrian horror worries McCanns
Madeleine McCann's parents fear she could end up like the secret family Josef Fritzl kept captive in an underground dungeon in Austria, they revealed.
Gerry McCann said the horrific case in the town of Amstetten, as well as that of Natascha Kampusch - who was held captive by Austrian paedophile Wolfgang Priklopil for eight years - did show it was possible his own daughter is still alive.
But he said he and wife Kate lived in fear that she could become a "statistic" while growing up elsewhere and ultimately surviving but forgetting her parents.
In a round of interviews to raise awareness of their case as they approach the anniversary of Madeleine's disappearance in Praia da Luz, Portugal, last May, Mr McCann also attacked the "industry" which has sprung up around them.
It was revealed at the weekend that Josef Fritzl, 73, kept daughter Elisabeth captive for 24-years in a cellar complex under his house, repeatedly raping her and fathering seven children, three of whom lived their lives in the dark.
In an appearance on Sky News the McCanns were asked if the shocking case did give them a glimmer of hope, as proof that it was possible for someone missing so long to still be alive.
Mr McCann replied: "It's an interesting concept isn't it? And of course Austria has had the other case of Natascha Kampusch who was missing for eight years.
"The last thing we would possibly ever want is for Madeleine to become a statistic, a missing child who because of her young age may grow up in another environment and never be recovered."
His wife Kate, sitting by his side, interjected: "And adapt..." - indicating that they also fear Madeleine could grow up and forget them.
The couple also defended their decision to have such a high public profile, saying it was the only way to raise awareness about their daughter.
But he added: "There has to be a change, there will be a change in the way we deal with the media as well.
"What happened over the last year was never sustainable and it led to a lot of rumour, myth, innuendo."
He added: "There is too much of an industry surrounding it and not enough facts to sustain it."
But he added that the couple had no more lawsuits in the pipeline.
The McCanns also said discussions were still ongoing about the prospect of them returning to Portugal - where they remain "arguidos" or officials suspects - to help with a reconstruction.
But they expressed reservations about what they said would inevitably become a major media event.
During the interviews the couple repeatedly spoke about their regrets at their decision to leave their children asleep when they went out on the night of May 3, when Madeleine went missing.
But Mrs McCann told GMTV: "There's been an evil crime committed here, a hideous crime ... it's just so important to concentrate on that.
"We've got to live with ourselves for that misjudgement but really the focus should be on that person who's out there."
The couple used their appearances to promote a new dedicated phone line for information about Madeleine's whereabouts on 0845 838 4699.