A climber in Austria has been convicted of negligent homicide following the death of his girlfriend during a challenging ascent last year. The incident occurred in January 2025 on Grossglockner, Austria’s highest peak, where adverse weather conditions and poor decision-making contributed to the tragedy.
Thomas P., 37, and his 33-year-old partner, Kerstin G., attempted to summit the mountain, choosing a difficult route despite warnings about the weather. They began their climb late in the day, which caused them to fall behind schedule as darkness approached.
As night fell, police made attempts to reach Thomas, but he did not answer his phone, despite having good reception. A helicopter was dispatched, but the couple failed to signal for help, even though they could have done so. In court, Thomas claimed he had put his phone in airplane mode to conserve battery.
Kerstin, wearing inappropriate snowboarding boots, became exhausted and informed Thomas that she could not continue just 50 meters from the summit. He chose to leave her behind without ensuring she was properly covered with an emergency blanket and sleeping bag. She did not take these precautions herself.
After reaching a nearby hut and finding no one there, Thomas finally called for rescue. However, due to severe weather conditions, the rescue operation had to proceed on foot. Rescuers discovered Kerstin deceased at 10:00 AM, having succumbed to hypothermia. Her body was found in a precarious position on a rock, lacking gloves and with her boots unfastened.
The prosecution argued that Thomas, due to his greater climbing experience, had a heightened duty of care towards Kerstin. They highlighted the extreme weather conditions, which included winds of up to 74 km/h and temperatures ranging from -8°C to -20°C.
During the trial, inconsistencies in Thomas’s communication with the rescue service were noted, as he failed to convey the urgency of their situation. Although he did not classify his call as an emergency, prosecutors contended that he made several critical errors throughout the climb.
A witness, Thomas’s former girlfriend, Andrea B., testified that he had similarly abandoned her during a climb of Grossglockner in 2023 when she was on the verge of exhaustion. She recounted feeling dizzy and panicked when he left her behind.
The defense maintained that the couple found themselves in an extremely difficult and stressful situation, asserting that Kerstin was not inexperienced and had requested Thomas to seek help.
Thomas P. pleaded not guilty, expressing deep regret for the incident and stating that he loved Kerstin, who was athletic and adventurous. They had plans for future trips together.
Kerstin’s family has chosen not to blame Thomas for her death.
Judge Norbert Hofer, an experienced climber himself, acknowledged Thomas’s climbing skills but noted that Kerstin was not at his level. He did not view Thomas as a murderer but believed he should have recognized that Kerstin could not complete the ascent before they encountered difficulties.
Ultimately, the court sentenced Thomas P. to five months of probation and imposed a fine of €9,400 (approximately $11,100) for gross negligence.
A climber in Austria has been convicted of negligent homicide after his girlfriend died during a challenging ascent on Grossglockner. The court found that his decisions and failure to assist her contributed to the tragic outcome.
Source: BBC