🚨 SHOCKING ALPS BETRAYAL: He left her to freeze just 150 feet from the summit… and it turns out this wasn’t his FIRST time abandoning a woman on the SAME deadly mountain! 😱

Thomas Plamberger, the experienced climber, watched his girlfriend Kerstin Gurtner collapse in -20°C blizzard conditions on Austria’s Grossglockner peak. Instead of staying, he descended alone to “get help”… but she died of hypothermia hours later.

The court just slammed him with guilty — gross negligent manslaughter — but the real bombshell? His ex-girlfriend testified he ditched HER too on the exact same mountain in 2023, leaving her crying in the dark because she was “too slow.”

Full shocking story  👇

An Austrian court has convicted a 37-year-old mountaineer of gross negligent manslaughter in the death of his girlfriend, who froze to death near the summit of the country’s highest peak during a winter climb gone wrong. Thomas Plamberger received a five-month suspended prison sentence and a fine of €9,600 (approximately $11,300) following a marathon one-day trial on February 19, 2026, that laid bare questions about responsibility, preparation, and personal conduct in extreme alpine environments.

The case centers on the January 18-19, 2025, ascent of the Grossglockner, a 3,798-meter (12,460-foot) mountain in the Hohe Tauern range known for its demanding winter routes. Plamberger, an experienced climber and former soldier from the Salzburg area, and his 33-year-old girlfriend, Kerstin Gurtner, set out for what was intended as a challenging overnight climb via the technical Stüdlgrat ridge. Gurtner, described by those close to her as sporty but less experienced in severe winter conditions, collapsed from exhaustion roughly 50 meters (164 feet) below the summit amid temperatures plunging to -20°C (-4°F), high winds, and poor visibility.

Prosecutors argued that Plamberger, as the more seasoned partner and de facto guide, committed a series of critical errors that amounted to gross negligence. These included failing to turn back despite falling behind schedule, inadequate equipment such as insufficient bivouac gear or emergency blankets properly utilized, putting his phone on airplane mode to conserve battery after initial rescue contact, and ultimately leaving Gurtner exposed and alone while he descended to seek assistance at a lower hut. By the time help arrived, Gurtner had succumbed to hypothermia after several hours alone on the ridge.

Plamberger denied criminal wrongdoing throughout the proceedings, insisting the death was a “tragic accident” that left him “endlessly sorry.” He told the Innsbruck regional court that Gurtner had urged him to go ahead and find help, recounting her last words as “Go, now go” when she could no longer continue. He claimed they had mutually agreed he should descend alone because staying together would endanger both of them through the night. His defense highlighted that he contacted authorities as soon as possible, though delays occurred due to signal issues and the treacherous terrain.

The trial took a dramatic turn with testimony from a surprise witness: Plamberger’s ex-girlfriend, identified in media reports as Andrea B. She described a similar incident during a 2023 climb on the same Grossglockner mountain. According to her account, after an argument over the route during a nighttime descent, Plamberger left her alone in the dark because he felt she was moving too slowly. She said she was left crying as her headlamp battery died, forcing her to navigate back without his assistance. This prior event was cited by prosecutors as evidence of a pattern, suggesting Plamberger had a history of prioritizing his own progress over the safety of less-experienced partners in high-risk situations.

The presiding judge, Norbert Hofer – himself an experienced mountaineer – described Plamberger as being “galaxies away” from Gurtner in terms of physical conditioning and alpine expertise. The court found that as the responsible party for the tour, Plamberger failed in his duty to ensure her safety, particularly by not aborting the climb earlier or providing adequate protection when she became incapacitated. Webcam footage from the mountain reportedly captured the couple ascending together before showing Plamberger descending alone, adding visual weight to the prosecution’s narrative.

Despite the conviction, the sentence was relatively lenient compared to the maximum three years possible for gross negligent manslaughter in Austria. The suspended term means Plamberger will avoid immediate jail time if he complies with probation conditions, reflecting the court’s view that while negligence was gross, intent was absent and the incident carried elements of a genuine emergency. Plamberger’s lawyer, Kurt Jelinek, maintained that the outcome underscored the risks inherent in mountaineering rather than outright criminality.

The case has sparked broader debate across Europe and in the international climbing community about personal responsibility on mountains. Experts have pointed out that winter ascents of peaks like Grossglockner demand rigorous preparation, realistic turnaround times, and a commitment to group safety over individual summiting goals. Critics of Plamberger’s actions argue that experienced climbers assume a heightened duty of care when guiding or partnering with novices, especially in sub-zero conditions where hypothermia can set in rapidly.

Gurtner’s family expressed mixed sentiments. Some reports indicated her parents supported Plamberger to a degree, viewing the death as a heartbreaking mishap rather than malice, though they acknowledged the pain of the loss. Plamberger himself expressed remorse in court, stating he had loved Gurtner and that the couple had planned the trip together as an adventure.

The Grossglockner tragedy is not isolated in the Alps, where ambitious winter climbs frequently lead to accidents. Rescue services in Tyrol and Carinthia handle dozens of hypothermia and exposure cases annually, often involving underprepared hikers or climbers who push too far. This incident, however, stands out due to the proximity to the summit – success was tantalizingly close – and the revelation of a prior similar abandonment, which prosecutors used to argue recklessness.

Mountain safety advocates have called for greater education on partner responsibility and the ethics of solo descents in distress situations. Organizations like the Austrian Alpine Club emphasize that climbers should never leave an incapacitated companion unless absolutely necessary and even then, only after exhausting all options to stay together or summon immediate aid.

As the dust settles on the Innsbruck courtroom, the Grossglockner case serves as a stark reminder of nature’s unforgiving power and the human decisions that can turn adventure into tragedy. Plamberger’s conviction, while not resulting in incarceration, brands him with legal accountability and leaves lingering questions about trust, preparation, and the thin line between heroism and negligence in the high Alps.