A 36-year-old experienced mountaineer faces charges of grossly negligent manslaughter after allegedly leaving his 33-year-old girlfriend unprotected, exhausted, and hypothermic about 50 meters below the summit of Großglockner, Austria’s highest peak at 3,798 meters, where she froze to death on January 18-19, 2025.​
Climb and Incident
The couple from Salzburg started from Kals via the Stüdlgrat route at 6:45 a.m., progressing slowly due to conditioning issues, technical difficulties, and gale-force winds up to 74 kph, reaching near the summit after nightfall amid sub-zero temperatures. Webcam footage captured their headlights; around 8:50 p.m., they stalled 50 meters below the summit cross, but the man did not use available bivy sack or thermal blanket, ignored rescue helicopter lights at 10:50 p.m., turned his phone silent despite calls, and descended alone by 2 a.m., contacting rescuers only at 3:30-3:40 a.m. from Adlersruhe hut.​
Rescue and Death
Rescuers, hindered by storm conditions feeling like -20°C with wind chill, reached the woman on foot around 10 a.m. on January 19, finding her dead from hypothermia; autopsy confirmed freezing as cause. Prosecutors allege the man, as tour leader, started late, lacked sufficient emergency gear, and abandoned her despite her inexperience on such winter high-altitude tours.​
Legal Proceedings
Innsbruck prosecutors indicted the man on December 4, 2025, for failing to protect or seek timely aid; his trial begins February 19, 2026, at regional court, with up to three years possible if convicted. He has remained silent on details.
