An experienced mountaineer is facing criminal charges in Austria after allegedly abandoning his exhausted girlfriend near the summit of the country’s highest peak, where she later froze to death in subzero temperatures.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Authorities have charged Thomas Plamberger, 39, with grossly negligent manslaughter following the January death of his partner, Kerstin Gurtner, 33, on the 12,460-foot Grossglockner mountain. Prosecutors say Plamberger acted with reckless disregard for safety, leaving Gurtner unprotected just 160 feet below the summit cross in extreme winter conditions.
The tragedy unfolded in the early hours of January 19, 2025, when the couple attempted a winter ascent via the Studlgrat route. A report from the New York Post says the pair reached near the peak around 2 a.m. when Gurtner began struggling and was unable to continue. According to prosecutors, instead of initiating an immediate rescue, Plamberger allegedly descended to seek help, leaving her exposed to severe alpine cold.
A mountain webcam captured footage of the couple near the summit before the tragedy. Prosecutors cited the footage as evidence that Plamberger delayed calling for emergency assistance. They allege he began the climb too late in the day, brought inadequate equipment, and failed to account for his girlfriend’s lack of high-altitude experience.
“The defendant left his girlfriend unprotected, exhausted, hypothermic, and disoriented about 50 meters below the summit cross of the Grossglockner. The woman froze to death,” prosecutors said Thursday.
They further argued that as the experienced climber who organized the trip, Plamberger bore the duty of care:
“Since the defendant, unlike his girlfriend, was already very experienced with alpine high-altitude tours and had planned the tour, he was to be considered the responsible guide of the tour.”
A tweet from journalist Robbie Mouton circulated footage from the webcam, while True Crime Updates confirmed that Austrian prosecutors had formally filed negligent homicide charges.
Gurtner’s body was later recovered approximately 160 feet from the summit, her death attributed to hypothermia. Investigators say she lacked proper winter protection, including insulated emergency gear and backup oxygen.
Plamberger’s defense attorney insists the incident was a “tragic, fateful accident,” arguing his client made every effort to save Gurtner by descending to alert rescuers amid rapidly worsening conditions.
The trial is scheduled to begin in February 2026. If convicted of grossly negligent manslaughter, Plamberger faces up to three years in prison.
The case has sparked intense debate in Austria’s climbing community over personal responsibility, risk management, and the ethics of high-altitude expeditions involving partners of unequal experience—a controversy now magnified by a death witnessed on camera at the top of the Alps.
Original article
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