Climbing
A 36-year-old Austrian man has been charged with manslaughter by gross negligence after leaving his 33-year-old girlfriend in the unrelenting high alpine terrain 165 feet from the summit of Austria’s highest mountain. At dusk on January 18, 2025, the novice climber was struggling and unable to continue the ascent when her more experienced partner left her “unprotected, exhausted, hypothermic, and disoriented,” according to the prosecutor’s office. The boyfriend is now set to face trial, with the offense punishable with up to three years of prison.
- Related: Exposure Death of 33-Year-Old Alpinist on Austria’s Grossglockner Sparks Police Investigation
The 12,460-foot Grossglockner demands significant physical effort and proper preparation. The pair ascended the Stüdlgrat route, rated III+ (fairly difficult) on the UIAA scale. With roughly 6,100 feet of vertical ascent, including glacial crossings and sections of sustained steep rock climbing, the route is typically completed over two days by experienced climbers with certified mountain guides.
Using evidence from forensics, phones, smartwatches, photos, videos, and an assessment by a technical alpine expert, prosecutors accuse the boyfriend of negligent errors. The couple began their ascent about two hours later than recommended. The woman was wearing a splitboard and soft boots—both against standard mountaineering recommendations—and the pair lacked essential emergency equipment. When she could no longer continue, she was left exposed to winds up to 46 mph and temperatures as low as 17°F. The boyfriend failed to protect her from the harsh environmental conditions and did not deploy her bivouac bag or aluminum rescue blanket for warmth. Prosecutors argue that, as the more experienced climber, the boyfriend was responsible for these decisions.
The pair became stranded around 8:50 p.m. when the woman could no longer proceed. Witnesses spotted the duo atop the mountain and informed local authorities of a pair appearing to be abandoned on the climb. The police identified the duo based on the cars left in the parking lot and began attempts to contact them. Although police helicopters were overhead by 10:50 p.m., no distress signals were given by the pair, and the helicopters left the scene. After multiple unsuccessful attempts by police to reach the couple, the climbers finally made contact shortly after midnight. Following this call, contact with police was disrupted due to the boyfriend silencing his phone and stowing it away, according to the prosecution. Leaving her and beginning his journey down around 2 a.m., he was able to send out a rescue alert at approximately 3:30 a.m. At dawn, helicopters were again overhead, but high winds prevented them from landing, necessitating the ground rescue team instead. Rescuers reached the woman shortly after 10 a.m. the next morning and found her deceased.
The trial is scheduled at the Innsbruck Regional Court for February 19, 2026. The boyfriend is described as apologetic and grieving, and according to his defense attorney, “It was a tragic, fateful accident.”
