Man ‘abandoned girlfriend to freeze to death on side of Austrian mountain’ | World | News
The woman who was left to die by her boyfriend near the top of a mountain in Austria was seen for the first time.
Thomas Plamberger, 36, is accused of abandoning Kerstin Gurtner, 33, while climbing Austria’s highest mountain, Grossglockner, in January. Prosecutors said the woman died from exposure to -20C conditions just 150ft below the summit after being abandoned “vulnerable, exhausted and hypothermic”.
Plamberger, an experienced climber, could face up to three years in prison after being charged with manslaughter by gross negligence for allegedly failing to bring emergency equipment and delaying contacting rescue services for hours.
Webcam footage captures the illumination from the couple’s headlights spotted in the field as they climbed the mountain on January 18. About six hours into their climb, the lights began to dim as the batteries wore out and Kerstin began to falter.
Encouraged by Plamberger to keep going, this woman attempted to conquer the final stretch of the mountain amid 46 mph winds and was wearing only soft snow boots, unsuitable for mixed terrain at such extreme altitudes. Kerstin reported being unable to go any further in the dark, becoming exhausted, hypothermic, and confused as night approached. Mirror.
Plamberger descended the mountain alone. Prosecutors allege that when he left his partner to supposedly seek help, he did not move him to an area protected from the wind and did not use a tent sack or aluminum rescue blanket.
Rescuers were unable to reach Kerstin until the next morning due to high winds and eventually found her lifeless body beneath the summit cross.
Prosecutors allege that the couple started the climb nearly two hours late, causing the climb to extend into the evening, and that they did not have an emergency bag with them. A comprehensive forensic investigation was soon launched in which phones, sports watches, photographs, videos were examined and mountain hiking experts were consulted.
Plamberger, who is legally responsible as the climb’s ‘guide’, is accused of ignoring his partner’s lack of climbing experience and failing to decide to turn back after dark. Prosecutors also said he did not contact emergency services quickly enough, saying the pair became stranded around 8.50pm, but remained silent as a police helicopter flew overhead at 10.50pm.
Alpine Police made multiple attempts to reach him and finally spoke to an officer at approximately 12.35pm, nearly four hours after the pair became stranded. Although the details of this call are unknown, Plamberger was unable to contact rescue services again after the call.
He allegedly put his phone on silent and put it aside and missed future calls from the police. It was only at 3.30 in the morning that he decided to notify the rescue teams, as he left Kerstin alone.
According to prosecutors, Plamberger “turned around” and dumped his girlfriend. A statement by prosecutors said: “At approximately 2 a.m., the defendant left his girlfriend unprotected, exhausted, hypothermic and confused approximately 50 meters below the Grossglockner peak.
“The woman froze to death. Since the defendant, unlike his girlfriend, was already very experienced in high-altitude tours and had planned the tour, he should have been considered the responsible guide of the tour.”
They also noted that Plamberger did not take into account his girlfriend’s inexperience and never attempted a high-altitude mountain trip during this time. Kerstin’s social media accounts feature images of her and Plamberger hiking and climbing together, with captions depicting her as a “winter child” and “mountain person.”
A friend paid tribute to her online, writing: “Rest in peace in heaven,” while another added: “Behind the tears of sadness lies the smile of memories.”
Another person wrote: “We still think of you so often.”
Plamberger, through his lawyer Kurt Jelinek, denied the allegations and maintained that he returned for help and that Kerstin’s death was a “tragic, grave accident.” Plamberger’s trial will begin in February, and he could face up to three years in prison if convicted.
