Austrian climber found guilty after girlfriend froze to death on mountain
The woman died of hypothermia during a climbing trip on the Grossglockner mountain in January 2025.
Coverage by Political Leaning
See how different sides of the spectrum reported this story
Notable Quotes
"I don't see you as a murderer, I don't see you as cold-hearted."
— Norbert Hofer , Other
"She had died of hypothermia, adding that she had found evidence of viral pneumonia and the painkiller ibuprofen in Kerstin G's body."
— Claudia Wöss , Other
"I am endlessly sorry for my girlfriend’s death."
— Thomas P , Other
"We don’t need anything ... everything’s fine."
— Thomas P , Other
"I loved Kerstin, we always made decisions together on the mountain."
— Thomas Plamberger , Other
"What I want to say is that I am so terribly sorry."
— Thomas P. , Other
"El abogado del condenado sostuvo que la pareja avanzó convencida de poder culminar la ascensión."
— Kerstin G. , Other
"I don’t see you as a murderer, I don’t see you as a cold-hearted man. I see you as the one who ultimately tried to call help and stand by his girlfriend."
— Norbert Hofer , Other
"I don't see you as a murderer, I don't see you as a cold-hearted man."
— Judge Norbert Hofer , Other
"so terribly sorry"
— Thomas P , Other
"go now, go!"
— Thomas P , Other
"I am sorry."
— Thomas P , Other
Key People
A former girlfriend of Thomas P who testified in the case.
Forensic pathologist who confirmed the cause of death.
The prosecutor who accused Thomas P of gross negligence.
Judge in an Austrian court who presided over the manslaughter trial.
Thomas P's girlfriend who died of hypothermia during a climbing trip.
The girlfriend of Thomas P. who died from hypothermia during a climbing trip.
Lawyer for Thomas P.
The judge in the case, experienced in climbing and mountain rescue.
An Austrian climber found guilty of gross negligent manslaughter after his girlfriend's death.
An amateur mountaineer found guilty of manslaughter after his girlfriend froze to death.
An amateur mountaineer found guilty of manslaughter for leaving his girlfriend alone on a mountain.
Tags
All Coverage
The woman died of hypothermia during a climbing trip on the Grossglockner mountain in January 2025.
An Austrian court found a 37-year-old amateur mountaineer guilty of manslaughter over his girlfriend’s death near Austria’s highest summit, after he left her to fetch help when she could not continue. The court handed him a five-month suspended prison sentence and a €9,400 fine for causing her death in January 2025 by gross negligence.
An Austrian court has found an amateur mountaineer guilty of manslaughter over his girlfriend’s death near the nation’s highest summit, where he had left her to fetch help. The court in Innsbruck gave Thomas P a five-month suspended prison sentence and a €9,400 fine for causing the woman’s death in January 2025 by gross negligence.
The court in Innsbruck handed the Austrian man a five-month suspended prison sentence and a €9,400 fine for causing her death in January 2025 by gross negligence, an offence that carries a maximum prison sentence of three years.
Thomas Plamberger, 39, was found guilty of gross negligent manslaughter after leaving his 33-year-old girlfriend, Kerstin Gurtner, to die of hypothermia just 150 feet below the 12,500-foot summit of Grossglockner. He received a five-month suspended sentence and a fine of €9,600.
An Austrian court convicted a 37-year-old man of manslaughter after his girlfriend died from hypothermia during a climb of the Grossglockner mountain in January 2025. The court imposed a five-month suspended sentence and a €9,600 fine, citing the man's failure to take appropriate emergency measures.
An Austrian court convicted a 37-year-old man of manslaughter after his girlfriend died from hypothermia during a climb of the Grossglockner mountain in January 2025. The court imposed a five-month suspended sentence and a €9,600 fine, citing the man's failure to take appropriate emergency measures.
An Austrian climber was found guilty of gross negligent manslaughter after his girlfriend froze to death on the Grossglockner mountain. The court sentenced him to a five-month suspended prison term and a €9,400 fine, highlighting his responsibility as the more experienced climber.
An Austrian climber was found guilty of manslaughter after his girlfriend froze to death on the Grossglockner mountain during a climbing trip. The court imposed a five-month suspended sentence and a €9,400 fine, citing the man's failure to take appropriate emergency measures.
Un tribunal de Innsbruck ha declarado culpable de homicidio por negligencia grave a un alpinista austriaco de 37 años por la muerte de ... , la cumbre más alta de ... impone cinco meses de prisión condicional y una multa de casi 10.000 ... .
Similar Stories
Related coverage based on topic and tags
French tourist dies in Death Valley after car gets stuck in mud
The 68-year-old man was found dead in California's salt flats amid 116°F (46.6C) heat.
August 25, 2026 at 02:08 AMFather leaves 7-year-old son alone on Mount Fuji to continue hike, reports say
The man had taken his two boys on the trip but is said to have left one behind when he got tired.
August 22, 2026 at 08:40 AMWife of man who died after turbulence sues airline
Lawyers for Linda Kitchen say her husband was "fatally injured" after the flight dropped 6,000 ft.
August 28, 2026 at 05:47 PMGirl dies in hospital days after family drowned off English coast, police say - Reuters
Girl dies in hospital days after family drowned off English coast, police say Reuters
August 21, 2026 at 11:27 PMTwo killed in 'domestic violence incident' at school near Berlin
Police have arrested a 19-year-old male suspect after an incident in which two people were killed near the German capital.
August 27, 2026 at 05:07 PMJury deliberating in trial of Lindsay Clancy, US woman accused of killing her children
Prosecutors argued Clancy made a calculated decision to murder the children, while the defence argued that she was suffering from postpartum psychosis.
August 27, 2026 at 05:46 PM