US EditionMan Wrote Tragic Message to 'Girlfriend He Left to Freeze to Death' on Mountain Summit
Prosecutors charge Thomas Plamberger with negligent manslaughter after leaving his inexperienced partner exposed near Austria's highest peak in -20C conditions, leading to her death.
- On Sunday, Thomas Plamberger, a seasoned Alpine climber, was charged with negligent manslaughter after Kerstin Gurtner, 33, froze to death near the Grossglockner summit when he descended and returned six and a half hours later, prosecutors say.
- Prosecutors say Thomas Plamberger made nine key mistakes including poor planning and failing to contact search teams, while the couple set off two hours too late on the high-alpine winter route.
- Prosecutors' 11-month investigation reviewed mobile phones and sports watches, and police tried calling Plamberger multiple times before he called back at 00.35am, then silenced his phone, prosecutors say.
- Plamberger denies any wrongdoing and his lawyer has rejected parts of the prosecutors' timeline; Plamberger said he left Gurtner `by mutual agreement`.
- Equipment and experience questions arose after prosecutors say Kerstin Gurtner used a splitboard and soft snowboard boots unsuited to the Grossglockner, Austria's highest peak requiring full climbing and glacier gear.
15 Articles
15 Articles
Climber Charged After Partner Dies in Winter Ascent
A mountain tragedy in Austria has taken a legal turn as climber Thomas Plamberger now faces grossly negligent homicide charges following the death of his partner, 33-year-old Kerstin Gurtner, on Grossglockner, the country's highest peak. Per Climbing.com , their winter ascent of the 12,461-foot mountain began on Jan. 18,...
Man ‘Hurting So Much’ After Leaving Girlfriend to Freeze to Death on Mountain
A mountain climber who left his girlfriend to freeze to death atop Austria’s highest peak has said the tragedy left him “hurting so much” in a series of online posts. Thomas Plamberger, 36, attempted to scale the peak of Grossglockner with his girlfriend, 33-year-old Kerstin Gurtner, back in January. The couple was attempting to scale Grossglockner’s 12,460-foot peak at night. JOE KLAMAR/AFP via Getty Images But Gurtner, an inexperienced climber…
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