For the first time, the public can see the face of a woman who tragically froze to death on Austria's tallest mountain after allegedly being abandoned by her experienced climber boyfriend, who now faces a manslaughter trial.
A Fatal Ascent in Brutal Conditions
Kerstin Gurtner, aged 33, lost her life in the pitch dark on the 12,640-foot Grossglockner on a January night in 2024, when temperatures plummeted to a deadly -20°C. Her boyfriend, 39-year-old Thomas Plamberger, has been charged with manslaughter by gross negligence by Austrian prosecutors.
The couple began their climb in the central-western region of Austria on January 19, but prosecutors state they departed two hours later than originally planned. They faced harsh conditions, with wind speeds reaching 46mph, making the -8°C air feel closer to -20°C. Webcam footage from the mountain chillingly shows their headlamps glowing around 6pm.
The Alleged Abandonment and Failed Rescue
By approximately 8:50pm, the pair were stranded. Prosecutors from the Innsbruck office allege that in the early hours, Plamberger left Gurtner in a perilous state. "At approximately 2am, the defendant left his girlfriend unprotected, exhausted, hypothermic, and disoriented about 50 meters below the summit cross," their statement reads.
Hours after their lights were first seen, only one moving light was visible descending the mountain. Mountain rescue teams in helicopters located Gurtner's body at 10am, just 150 feet below the summit. They had attempted to descend earlier but were thwarted by the severe weather.
Mounting Evidence of Negligence
As part of a detailed investigation, authorities examined the couple's mobile phones, sport watches, and laptops. Analysing photos from the ascent, they concluded Plamberger made several critical errors.
The prosecution's case highlights multiple alleged failures:
- Not contacting emergency services sufficiently before nightfall.
- Failing to make a distress signal when a police helicopter flew overhead at 10:50pm.
- Starting the tour late and being poorly equipped, with Gurtner wearing soft snowboard boots instead of proper mountaineering footwear.
- Not placing Gurtner in a sheltered spot or using survival equipment like aluminium blankets or a bivvy bag before leaving her.
Prosecutors argue that as the experienced planner of the tour, Plamberger was the "responsible guide." They also state he failed to properly consider that his girlfriend had never undertaken such a demanding high-altitude alpine tour before. Grossglockner is known as a challenging climb requiring specialist gear like ropes and crampons to navigate its treacherous glacier.
Trial and Tributes
Plamberger has denied the allegations. His lawyer has described the event as a "tragic, fateful incident," claiming he left to seek help. His trial is scheduled to begin in February 2025, and if convicted, he could face up to three years in prison.
Since her death, hundreds of tributes have honoured Kerstin Gurtner, remembered by friends as a "wonderful" woman. A funeral notice posted last January included her poignant words: "Our lives are in God’s hands; if it is His will, then do not grieve for me. But remember me with love."
