A man was caught on camera allegedly leaving his girlfriend to die on a freezing mountain in Austria. Thomas Plamberger, 36, and his girlfriend Kerstin Gurtner, 33, were climbing Grossglockner, the tallest peak in Austria, in January. Tragically, Kerstin froze to death just 150ft below the summit in extreme -20C temperatures after being left “unprotected, exhausted, and hypothermic,” as per prosecutors. Plamberger faces charges of manslaughter by gross negligence, which he denies.
During the climb, the couple’s lights dimmed as the battery ran out, and Kerstin struggled. Despite encouragement from Plamberger, she attempted to continue but ultimately became too exhausted, hypothermic, and disoriented to go on. Plamberger, deemed the more experienced climber, allegedly left to seek help but failed to assist Kerstin adequately. Rescuers tried to contact him, but he reportedly turned off his phone, leaving Kerstin stranded in harsh weather conditions.
Plamberger was later seen hiking down the mountain alone, abandoning his girlfriend. Rescue teams found Kerstin dead the next morning. Prosecutors claim Plamberger neglected to consider Kerstin’s lack of experience and failed to act responsibly during the climb. Plamberger’s trial is set to begin, with potential consequences of up to three years in prison if convicted.
Friends of Kerstin expressed their grief and paid tribute to her on social media. The tragic incident has left many mourning her loss and seeking justice for the alleged negligence that led to her death.