An Austrian climber has been found guilty of gross negligent manslaughter after his girlfriend froze to death during a winter ascent of Grossglockner, Austria’s highest mountain.
The man, identified only as Thomas P under Austrian privacy laws, received a five-month suspended prison sentence and was fined €9,600 (£8,400). His girlfriend, Kerstin G, died of hypothermia during the climb in January 2025.
In a statement, the court said it considered Thomas P’s previously clean criminal record and the personal loss he suffered as mitigating factors. It also noted the intense public scrutiny and critical discussion surrounding the case on social media.
Presiding judge Norbert Hofer, an experienced mountaineer who has worked with rescue teams in Tyrol, said Thomas P was a skilled alpinist but that Kerstin’s abilities were far below his, particularly in winter conditions. The judge stated the pair should have turned back earlier due to her limited experience.
The prosecution argued that Thomas P, as the more experienced climber, bore responsibility for the safety of the expedition. They said he failed to call for help in time and did not respond when a police helicopter flew overhead at around 22:30. Video footage showed the couple still ascending the mountain, and no distress signals were sent.
Weather conditions were described as severe, with temperatures of -8°C and windchill dropping to -20°C. Winds reportedly reached speeds of up to 74 km/h (45 mph). Rescue teams later found Kerstin’s body hanging upside down from a rock face. One rescuer told the court they were surprised she remained in that position, noting that stronger winds could have caused her to fall.
Thomas P pleaded not guilty and told the court he deeply regretted what had happened. He said he loved Kerstin and that they had planned the climb together. His defence argued that she was not inexperienced and understood the risks involved.
According to prosecutors, the couple became stranded on the mountain, and Thomas P did not send emergency signals or immediately contact authorities. At 00:35 on 19 January, he phoned mountain police, though the nature of that call is disputed. Prosecutors say it was not clearly communicated as an emergency.
The defence said the situation deteriorated suddenly when Kerstin became exhausted near the summit. They claimed she urged Thomas P to seek help. He later scaled the summit and descended on the other side, leaving her behind. Prosecutors allege he left her around 02:00.
The case has sparked widespread debate within Austria and the international climbing community, raising questions about responsibility, risk-taking and when personal decisions in extreme sports cross into criminal liability.
The verdict is subject to appeal.
