A climber has been found guilty of gross negligent manslaughter after his girlfriend, whom he left behind on Austria‘s highest mountain after encountering some difficulties on their trek, died.
Thomas Plamberger, 37, a chef from Salzburg, received a five-month suspended sentence and was fined 9,400 euros ($15,165) for the death of Kerstin Gurtner, 33, in January of last 12 months.
A photograph taken on October 12, 2024 from the Sonnblick Observatory near Rauris, Austria, shows the Grossglockner, Austria’s highest mountain, within the Hohe Tauern mountain range.
(Photo KERSTIN JOENSSON/AFP via Getty Images
The couple were climbing the Grossglockner within the Austrian Alps, which stands nearly 3,800 metres above sea level, after they bumped into trouble.
Plamberger was convicted in Innsbruck, western Austria, on Friday, where his offence carried a maximum sentence of three years’ imprisonment.
The judge, Norbert Hofer, also an avid climber and mountain rescuer, ruled that Plamberger was a highly experienced climber whose girlfriend was ill-equipped to finish their hike.
The prosecution argued that, because the far superior climber, Plamberger was chargeable for the couple’s safety.
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It also said he left his girlfriend “defenceless, exhausted, hypothermic and disoriented” near the summit as he attempted to search out help after making a series of mistakes, including poor planning, insufficient clothing and equipment in freezing conditions. He also did not alert rescue teams to their struggles as soon as they arose within the early hours of Jan. 19, the prosecution said.
Plamberger pleaded not guilty and had previously told the court he was “endlessly sorry” for his girlfriend’s death, local media wrote from the courtroom on Thursday.
“I loved Kerstin and didn’t want anything to occur to her,” he said.
Plamberger told the court that his late girlfriend was an enthusiastic mountaineer in excellent physical shape and that that they had organized the climb together.
“We all the time planned the tour together and took decisions jointly,” he said. “I didn’t lead the tour, so was not within the lead role.”
In previous statements to police, he reportedly described himself as leading and planning the trek. He also claimed that the intense conditions had taken them by surprise.
Asked why he didn’t call emergency services, he said, “It was a completely exceptional situation. Kerstin had no strength left, so I secured her to the rock with a rope after which climbed down.”
In a press release sent to the BBC, the court said it considered Plamberger’s clean record and the lack of an individual near him “to be mitigating aspects.”
In line with outlet, Hofer said the couple must have turned around as Gurtner was not experienced enough to navigate the hostile winter conditions.
After having second thoughts about leaving Gurtner alone and turning back, he said she shouted to him, “Go, go on your individual and save your individual life.”
Hofer ruled that Plamberger displayed poor judgment within the situation, but said he didn’t “wilfully” leave his girlfriend behind.
“I don’t see you as a murderer, I don’t see you as cold-hearted,” the judge said.
The incident has drawn widespread attention and sparked extensive discussion on social media, particularly throughout the mountaineering community, about liability in climbing incidents.
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