A man has been found guilty of grossly negligent manslaughter after leaving his girlfriend to die from hypothermia on Austria’s Grossglockner mountain, the country’s highest peak. The 37-year-old, identified in local media as Thomas P., received a five-month suspended prison sentence and a fine of €9,600 (approximately $11,300) on Thursday, according to a statement from the Innsbruck Regional Court.
The incident occurred in January 2025, when Thomas P. And his 33-year-old girlfriend, Kerstin G., encountered difficulties while attempting to reach the summit. The court heard conflicting accounts regarding the defendant’s efforts to seek assistance after leaving Kerstin G. Alone, reportedly exhausted and inadequately equipped, a short distance from the peak.
Judge Norbert Hofer, himself an experienced climber, emphasized the disparity in climbing abilities between the two individuals. He stated that Kerstin G. Was “galaxies” away from her partner’s skill level and had reasonably assumed he would take responsibility for her safety. The verdict raises questions about the liabilities of climbers regarding the well-being of their companions.
The prosecution argued that Thomas P., as the more experienced alpinist, was responsible for assessing the conditions and his partner’s capabilities before embarking on the climb via the technically demanding Studlgrat route. Analysis of the couple’s progress indicated they were making slow progress – only 24 meters per hour – near the “breakfast spot,” considered the last safe point to turn back. Later, their pace slowed to just 16 meters per hour, according to data from Kerstin G.’s sports watch.
Thomas P. Told the court that Kerstin G. Suffered a sudden loss of strength near the summit and was forced to crawl. He claimed she told him to continue, believing she had inadvertently saved his life. He then descended to the Erzherzog-Johann-Hütte mountain hut and alerted authorities, though the timing and manner of his emergency call were points of contention during the trial.
A key issue debated during the proceedings was whether Thomas P.’s initial contact with an alpine police officer constituted a legitimate emergency call. The officer attempted to reach both climbers but was unable to establish contact after the call was abruptly disconnected. A subsequent WhatsApp message also went unanswered. An expert witness testified that this did not qualify as a proper emergency call, as continuous communication is essential in alpine rescue situations.
The court also heard testimony from a former girlfriend of Thomas P., who recounted a similar incident in 2023 on the Grossglockner. She described being left alone in the dark after her headlight failed, feeling dizzy and abandoned. She stated she was “crying and screaming” when he walked ahead and left her behind. She subsequently ended the relationship.
The judge acknowledged that Thomas P. Was a highly skilled and experienced mountaineer but criticized his failure to react to his partner’s limitations and his inadequate communication with rescue services. The expert witness described the defendant’s knowledge as stemming from practice and online videos, and deemed his seiltechnik (rope work) as “absolutely incompetent.”
The circumstances surrounding Kerstin G.’s death remain partially unclear. The court noted three possible scenarios: that Thomas P. Left her secured with a sling, that she managed to descend independently despite her exhaustion, or that she fell and became accidentally suspended by the sling. The judge stated that no verdict could fully restore the loss experienced by the family.
The case garnered international attention, with reports appearing in media outlets across Europe and beyond. Judge Hofer emphasized that the extensive media coverage did not influence the court’s decision. The verdict is expected to have implications for mountain climbers and the legal responsibilities they bear for the safety of their companions.
