Kerstin Gurtner tragically died on Austria’s Grossglockner mountain(Image: jung.gemeinsam-trauern.net)
All you need to know about the allegations against Thomas Plamberger after his girlfriend, Kerstin Gurtner, froze to death on Austria’s Grossglockner mountainThomas Plamberger, 36, is facing manslaughter charges for allegedly leaving his girlfriend, Kerstin Gurtner, 33, to freeze to death on Austria’s Grossglockner mountain in January. Prosecutors claim Plamberger abandoned his girlfriend roughly 50 metres below the summit cross while she was ‘exhausted, hypothermic and disoriented’ in the dark, and descended the peak alone.The pair were reportedly ill-prepared for the conditions, with Kerstin donning only soft snowboarding boots which were unsuitable for mixed terrain at high altitudes. Plamberger, a seasoned mountaineer who is being held legally accountable as the tour’s ‘guide’, failed to pack a crucial emergency kit including essentials like a bivouac sack or aluminium rescue blankets to protect against freezing temperatures with a wind chill of -20C.Plamberger is accused of not alerting emergency services promptly, reportedly remaining silent when a police helicopter flew overhead at 10.50pm, despite the pair having been stranded since around 8.50pm. Alpine Police had made several attempts to contact him, with Plamberger only speaking to an officer at around 12.35am – almost four hours after they became stranded.He only notified rescue services of their situation at 3.30am, after he left Kerstin alone. As the more experienced mountaineer, Plamberger is accused of disregarding his girlfriend’s limited climbing experience and physical capabilities, urging her to press on up the mountain despite challenging conditions. Although she identified herself as an “inter child” and a “mountain person”, her experience was less than that of her boyfriend.The hike reportedly kicked off around two hours later than planned. Webcam footage picked up the glow from their head torches during the ascent at 6pm, but visibility of their progress dwindled about six hours later as the batteries began to fail. By 2.30am, it’s alleged that Plamberger abandoned Kerstin to carry on alone down the other side of the Grossglockner.Thomas Plamberger has been charged with manslaughter by gross negligence, and could face up to three years behind bars if found guilty. His trial is due to commence in February. Plamberger refutes the allegations, and through his lawyer, Kurt Jelinek, stated that he left to seek assistance. He described his girlfriend’s death as a “tragic, fateful accident”.
READ THE FULL STORY: Boyfriend charged after ‘leaving exhausted girlfriend to freeze to death’ on mountain
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.