Austrian Man Found Guilty in Girlfriend’s Death on Mountain Hike
The New York Times • • general
Key Points:
- An Austrian man, Thomas Plamberger, was found guilty of gross negligent manslaughter for leaving his girlfriend behind during a mountain hike, leading to her freezing to death.
- Plamberger received a suspended five-month prison sentence and was fined 9,600 euros in Innsbruck for the death of Kerstin Gurtner on Grossglockner, Austria’s highest peak.
- The incident occurred in January 2025 when Gurtner became exhausted near the summit, and Plamberger chose to descend alone to seek help.
- The judge expressed sympathy for Plamberger but criticized his decisions during the hike, sparking international debate about personal responsibility in mountaineering.
