Safety & Advisories

He Left His Girlfriend to Die 50 Metres From the Summit. An Austrian Court Just Called It a Crime.

Thomas Plamberger was convicted of manslaughter by gross negligence after Kerstin Gurtner froze to death on the Grossglockner — a verdict climbers…

By Laxman Rawal · Jul 28, 2026

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Key facts An Innsbruck court convicted Thomas Plamberger, 37, of manslaughter caused by gross negligence after his climbing partner, Kerstin Gurtner, 33, froze to death on Austria's highest peak. Gurtner died roughly 50 metres below the 3,798-metre summit of…

Travel Himalaya Nepal · News

What this means for trekkers

What this means for you If you're considering an unguided climb with a partner rather than a professional expedition, this case is worth sitting with. A private rope team has no radio dispatch, no fixed protocol for exactly when to abandon a summit push, and…

Travel Himalaya Nepal · News

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