An Austrian man was found guilty of gross negligent manslaughter on Thursday for leaving his girlfriend to die of hypothermia on the country’s highest mountain, Grossglockner, in January 2025. Thomas Plamberger, 37, was convicted by a court in Innsbruck, according to multiple reports.
The case centers around the death of Kerstin Gurtner, 33, who froze to death after becoming exhausted and disoriented during a climb with Plamberger. Prosecutors argued that Plamberger, as the more experienced climber and the planner of the ascent, was responsible for Gurtner’s safety and failed to act appropriately when she began to struggle. They accused him of making nine key errors, including inadequate expedition planning and a delayed call for help.
According to court documents and testimony, the couple were approximately 50 meters from the 3,798-meter (12,460-foot) summit when Gurtner began experiencing difficulties. Plamberger then descended to seek help, leaving Gurtner alone in temperatures as low as -8°C (17.6°F) with winds up to 45 mph. He did not contact authorities until approximately 1:35 a.m., more than an hour after he claimed, and only returned to Gurtner six and a half hours later.
Plamberger’s defense attorney, Kurt Jelinek, maintained that his client acted reasonably and that Gurtner had, at one point, told him to go and get help. Jelinek stated that Plamberger spent over an hour attempting to assist Gurtner before seeking assistance, and that the conditions on the mountain were “hopeless.” Though, prosecutors presented evidence suggesting that Plamberger’s account of events was inconsistent and that he delayed alerting emergency services.
The trial, which began on Thursday, examined mobile phone data, sports watch recordings, and photographs from the climb, as well as an independent assessment from an Alpine mountaineering expert. The prosecution emphasized that Plamberger was the “responsible guide for the tour” due to his experience and planning role. The court ultimately found that Plamberger’s actions constituted gross negligence, leading to Gurtner’s death.
The verdict in the case is expected to have implications for mountain climbers and the extent of their responsibility for the safety of their companions. The length of the trial was just one day, with the verdict delivered on Thursday evening. Details regarding the sentence imposed on Plamberger have not yet been released.
