Climber Accused of Leaving Girlfriend to Freeze to Death on Austria's Highest Peak

A chilling legal battle has commenced in Innsbruck, Austria, as veteran climber Thomas Plamberger stands trial for the negligent manslaughter of his partner, Kerstin Guetner. The 33 year old woman froze to death in January 2025 on the Grossglockner, Austria’s highest mountain, after being left alone in pitch black conditions and sub zero temperatures. What began as an ambitious winter ascent turned into a desperate struggle for survival, ending in a tragedy that has gripped the international climbing community. Prosecutors argue that Plamberger, as the more experienced climber and de facto guide, made a series of catastrophic decisions that directly led to Guetner’s death. However, as the trial begins, a startling wave of support has emerged from the victim's own mother, who defends the accused man against the state’s claims of criminal negligence.

Nine Fatal Mistakes

The prosecution’s case is built on an exhaustive 11 month investigation that analyzed mobile phone data, fitness trackers, and summit photos. According to the indictment, the couple was a mere 50 meters from the 3,798 meter summit at approximately 2:00 AM on January 19 when Guetner became incapacitated by exhaustion and hypothermia. The state argues that Plamberger committed nine fundamental errors, including a late start, poor route planning, and a failure to provide emergency gear such as thermal blankets or a bivy sack before leaving her to seek help.

The timeline of the disaster is particularly damning according to the authorities. The pair reportedly became stuck around 8:50 PM, yet they failed to signal a police helicopter that flew directly over their position two hours later. Prosecutors further allege that Plamberger placed his phone on silent during critical hours of the night, ignoring calls from rescue services until he finally reported the emergency at 3:30 AM, long after he had descended. At the time of her death, the mountain was lashed by 70 kilometer per hour winds, making the negative 8 degree temperature feel like a lethal negative 20 degrees. Guetner was also reportedly wearing soft snow boots and using a splitboard, equipment deemed entirely unsuitable for such a technical and icy ascent.

A Mother’s Defense

In a dramatic twist, Guetner’s mother, Gertrude, has publicly sided with the defendant. In an interview with the German newspaper Die Zeit, she rejected the image of her daughter as an innocent victim led astray by an irresponsible partner. "The two always made decisions together. If Kerstin didn't agree, they wouldn't have gone on a climb, or he would have gone alone," she stated. Gertrude believes the tragedy was a result of a horrific chain of circumstances rather than criminal abandonment.

Defense attorney Kurt Jelinek has echoed this sentiment, classifying the event as a "tragic accident" and disputing the prosecution’s version of the phone logs. He maintains that Plamberger did not ignore the authorities but was struggling against the same elements that eventually claimed his partner’s life. Webcam footage from the mountain captured the two headlamps together in the evening, followed by a single light descending the slope alone hours later. Due to the extreme winds, rescuers could not reach the summit until the following day, where they found Guetner’s body beneath the summit cross. If convicted of the nine fatal errors, Plamberger faces up to three years in prison.