Five-month prison sentence for the man who let his partner die on Austria's highest peak

An Austrian court has sentenced a 37-year-old mountaineer to five months in prison and a €94,000 fine for abandoning his partner during a storm on the Grossglockner, Austria's highest peak. Thomas Plamberger left Kerstin Gurtner alone on a ridge exposed to strong winds while he went to seek help at a nearby refuge. During the trial, it was revealed that Plamberger took their emergency equipment: a thermal blanket and a bivouac sack. The incident occurred in January 2025. According to the ruling, after a long day of climbing in adverse conditions, the couple was about 50 meters below the summit when the victim, exhausted and suffering from hypothermia, had to stop. The judge stated that while the defendant is an excellent mountaineer, Gurtner was not at his level, and they should have abandoned the expedition when they saw that the conditions were unsuitable for her. According to the prosecution, winds were blowing at up to 74 km/h and temperatures were around eight degrees below zero. Therefore, since Plamberger was a much more experienced climber than his partner, he had the responsibility to assess the situation and make a correct and safe decision. The defendant has been found guilty of manslaughter by gross negligence, as he abandoned the victim without activating any rescue signal, even though a helicopter was circling the area. The man, who pleaded not guilty, told the court he was "terribly sorry," described his partner's death as a "tragic accident," and claimed they had planned the trip together. His lawyer argued that the victim was not inexperienced and knew what kind of climb they were undertaking. A former partner of the defendant who testified at the trial explained that he had abandoned her on a previous climb to the same peak. According to the statement, Plamberger disappeared suddenly when both were fatigued and dizzy, and did not return despite their shouts. Footage recorded from a helicopter showed the couple climbing, not in any risky or emergency situation. Mountain police did not activate a search operation, although they received a call in which it was unclear whether they needed rescue. They later tried to contact Plamberger, but he did not answer calls and messages, reportedly because he had activated airplane mode on his phone to save battery. The case has attracted international interest because it could affect legal liability in mountain sports. The sentence is not yet final and can be appealed.