Austrian Climber Receives Suspended Sentence in Girlfriend’s Mountain Death

An Innsbruck court has found Thomas Plamberger, 37, guilty of negligent manslaughter for leaving his girlfriend, Kerstin Gurtner, 33, to die on Austria’s highest mountain, the Grossglockner. The incident occurred on January 19, 2025, during a climb in challenging winter conditions. Plamberger received a five-month suspended sentence and a fine of €9,600.

The Fateful Ascent and Rescue Attempt

Plamberger and Gurtner were attempting to summit the 3,798-meter Grossglockner when they encountered a blizzard and became trapped just below the peak. According to Plamberger’s testimony, Gurtner urged him to descend and seek help, believing they would not survive the night. He then attempted to reach emergency services by phone.

The prosecution argued that Plamberger, as the more experienced climber, bore a responsibility for Gurtner’s safety and made a series of poor decisions, including failing to turn back as conditions deteriorated and not adequately equipping them for the climb. Specifically, he did not pack appropriate emergency equipment and had limited food supplies.

Court Findings and Judge’s Ruling

Judge Norbert Hofer stated that Plamberger was “galaxies away” from his partner in terms of climbing condition and that, had he acted differently, Gurtner might have survived. The Irish Times reports that the judge highlighted Plamberger’s failure to turn around despite worsening conditions and Gurtner’s attempts to call for mountain rescue.

Plamberger, a former soldier, testified that he had climbed the Grossglockner four times previously, including three winter ascents. He attributed the tragedy to poor weather and a snagged rope that caused a 90-minute delay. He expressed deep remorse for Gurtner’s death, stating, “I loved her and didn’t want anything bad to happen to her.”

Investigation and Testimony

An 11-month investigation revealed that Plamberger failed to flag down a police helicopter that passed near their location and subsequently put his phone on silent, failing to answer calls from rescue services. The Independent details how the first call received by alpine rescue at 12:35 am was unclear, and it took another three hours for Plamberger to fully inform them of the situation.

Gurtner’s parents, in a letter read to the court, expressed their belief that their daughter was an experienced climber and that the tragedy should not be attributed to her inexperience.

Legal Implications and Duty of Care

The case raises questions about legal liability in mountaineering, an inherently risky activity. Legal experts suggest the proceedings tested Austria’s “duty of care” doctrine, which holds individuals responsible for the safety of others in hazardous situations they have assumed responsibility for.