An Austrian climber has been found guilty in the death of his girlfriend, who died of hypothermia on Austria’s highest mountain. Climbing.
He was found guilty of death by negligence. And was given a five-month suspended sentence and a fine of 9,600 euros. Tragedy
The incident occurred on 19 January 2025 during a winter climb on the Great Grockglockner, the highest peak in the Alps almost 3,800 metres above sea level. Which lasted more than 17 hours.
According to the man, she “suddenly began to show signs of exhaustion and it was no longer possible to return.”
The man, identified in the case file as Thomas P., left his girlfriend in the open air and went to get help.
At he called the mountain police.
The content of the conversation has become a point of contention: rescuers argue that it was not an emergency call, while the lawyer insists that Thomas did not sound like “all 23”. Thomas began his descent via a different route, leaving the woman in place.
According to prosecutors, this happened at around 2am – cameras recorded the light from his torch travelling down from the summit.
Author photo, www.foto-webcam.eu
rocky section – she was hanging upside down.
One of the rescuers told the court that the team was shocked by what they saw: if the wind had been stronger, the woman could have been blown off the slope.
Honour of negligence
The prosecution argues that Thomas P. Failed in his duties as a more experienced climber.
According to prosecutors, he made several serious mistakes.
First, he continued up the climb even though Kerstin had never made such a long and difficult alpine ascent before.
Second, the pair set off up the mountain two hours later than the recommended time and were inadequately equipped with emergency gear.
Thomas also failed to warn Kerstin that her snowboard boots were not suitable for the route.
The weather conditions that evening were very difficult, with winds of up to 74 kilometres per hour, temperatures of around -8°C, and with the wind chill it felt like -20°C.
According to the prosecution’s case, all these deficiencies show Thomas Kerstin’s negligence.
Thomas P’s words.
The man himself denies the charge of negligent death, and his defence lawyer called Kerstin’s death a “tragic accident”. Of her death, “I loved Kerstin and I didn’t want anything to happen to her.”
He added that Kerstin was athletic and well prepared and had planned the trek together. He said the unfavourable weather conditions, with wind chills of up to -20°C at altitude, came as a surprise. Past
The court also heard testimony from the climber’s former partner, Andrea B. She said that during a prior climb of the same mountain in 2023, the man had deprived her of herself on the route.
She was exhausted, felt dizzy, and her headlamp went out, she said. She cried and screamed for help as he went forwards, leaving her behind.
The line between risk and crime
Circumstances.
Head judge Norbert Gofer, himself an experienced climber, noted that Thomas P. Must realise: Kerstin would not be able to complete the climb long before the couple encountered difficulties.
Thomas, recognising that he did go for help. The judge added that Thomas was a much more experienced climber than his girlfriend and she relied on his tutelage.
The key issue he raised was where the line was drawn between personal risk in the mountains and the criminal liability of a climbing partner.