Haunting new details have emerged in the case of a mountaineer who froze to death on Austria's highest mountain after allegedly being left behind by her climbing partner and boyfriend during a perilous night-time ascent.
A Fatal Ascent in Brutal Conditions
Kerstin Gurtner, aged 33, lost her life just 50 metres (approximately 150 feet) below the summit of the 12,460-foot Grossglockner on 19 January last year. Temperatures during the ill-fated climb plunged to a deadly minus 20 degrees Celsius, exacerbated by hurricane-force winds.
Her partner, 39-year-old Thomas Plamberger, now faces a formal charge of negligent homicide (manslaughter by gross negligence) following an 11-month investigation by prosecutors in Innsbruck. Authorities concluded he left Ms Gurtner 'exhausted, hypothermic and disoriented' in the darkness while he descended alone.
Webcam Images and Alleged Failures
Chilling evidence from mountain webcams shows the glow of two head torches moving towards the summit shortly after 6pm on 18 January. Hours later, only one light is seen retreating. Prosecutors state that around 2am, Plamberger left his girlfriend unprotected near the summit cross.
The investigation, which examined mobile phones, sports watches, and laptops, highlighted a catalogue of critical errors:
- The couple were poorly equipped, with Kerstin wearing soft snowboard boots instead of proper mountaineering footwear.
- They started their ascent roughly two hours later than planned and carried insufficient emergency gear.
- Plamberger, the more experienced climber who planned the tour, failed to account for his girlfriend's high level of inexperience on such demanding alpine tours.
- He did not move her to a wind-protected spot or use a bivouac sack or rescue blanket before leaving.
Prosecutors also emphasised that, given the extreme conditions with wind speeds up to 46mph, the pair should have turned back much earlier.
Delayed Rescue and Impending Trial
Despite the severity of the situation, an emergency call was not made before nightfall. The couple were stranded from about 8:50pm, and prosecutors allege Plamberger gave no distress signal when a police helicopter flew over at 10:50pm. He finally spoke to Alpine Police around 00:35am but then put his phone on silent.
He did not contact rescue services again until 3:30am, after he had already descended. A dawn helicopter rescue was impossible due to the fierce winds. Mountain rescuers finally reached Kerstin Gurtner just after 10:00am on 19 January, finding her already deceased.
Kerstin, who described herself online as a 'winter child' and 'mountain person', was memorialised in a funeral notice that read: 'Our lives are in God's hands; if it is His will, then do not grieve for me. But remember me with love.'
Through his lawyer, Kurt Jelinek, Thomas Plamberger has denied the allegations, insisting he left to get help and that the event was a 'tragic, fateful accident'. His trial is scheduled to begin in February, where if convicted, he could face a prison sentence of up to three years.
