Posted on 02/20/2026 7:03:05 AM PST by BenLurkin
An Austrian climber has been found guilty of gross negligent manslaughter after his girlfriend froze to death on Austria's highest mountain last year.
The man, named only as Thomas P in line with Austrian privacy laws, has been given a five-month suspended sentence and fined €9,600 (£8,400).
His girlfriend, Kerstin G, died of hypothermia during a climbing trip on the Grossglockner mountain in January 2025.
In a statement sent to the BBC, the court said it considered Thomas P's previous clean record and the loss of a person close to him "to be mitigating factors".
...
The court also heard from Andrea B, a former girlfriend of Thomas P, who described how he had left her alone on a previous tour on the Grossglockner in 2023.
She said she had been at the end of her tether, feeling dizzy and her headlight had gone out.
She said she was crying and screaming when he suddenly disappeared, walking ahead and leaving her behind.
...
Hofer suggested instead that, based on her position in the photos taken by the rescue team, she may have had a fall.
The court heard how the mountain rescue team found her body hanging upside down from a rock face, according to Austrian reports.
"We were amazed that she remained in that position," one of the rescuers told the court. If the wind had been any stronger, "she would have fallen over the south face".
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...
After all, he added, 'who hasn't done the old leave the girlfriend on the mountain gag. Some chicks really dig it.'
And he can still hear her complain.
He used to love her.
Very, very, odd.
It’s seems like they’re criminalizing personal responsibility....all because it was “decided” he was the more experienced climber? Even though she was no novice? Her judgement to not continue is of no relevance?
“Rescuers said it wasn’t an emergency call”...then why the call?
“The defence said that she told Thomas P to go to get help” - how do they know this?
So, in an emergency situation, if you ‘only’ make sure you survive, you’re guilty of a crime if somebody else doesn’t make it?
This seems bizarrely subjective.
Once when I was in my 20s a woman I potentially might have dated wanted to join me for a night time fishing trip out the West Jetty on Nantucket. The Jetty is about a half mile long, not lights, with rocks that were just dumped in a pile, not structured to a flat surface. We didn’t use flashlights but it was mild autumn weather with warm water. She was cute and thin blonde with a great body and luxuriously thick, straight blonde hair. With a pleasant personality too. We got out to the end and the stripers were biting. I got some good hits but then asked myself “do i really want to haul a 30 lb striper back in with her in tow?” So I called it and we headed back in.
We made it in fine. She passed with flying colors! She was a team player, supportive and could take care of herself. In hind sight it probably cost me a keeper striper, but gotta watch out for persons depending upon me.
Funny thing tho she never called me after that.
Reading the article makes this guy sound pretty strange, and not someone to go climbing with.
This is an interesting case. My first reaction is that everyone should be personally responsible for themselves, but when it comes to rock climbing, it many times is a two person operation. You need a partner to help you and to ensure safety. So if he made it up safely and then walked away, perhaps that is some type of crime.
“found her body hanging upside down from a rock face”
Unless he’s superman how is he supposed to save her? I guess girlfriends are going to have to sign a waiver before going climbing in the future.
Women want men who can provide for them. If you didn’t make a catch, maybe she thought you weren’t a catch. But who knows how women think?
We don’t know what kind of catch she thought he was, she is dead.
I thought it was genius that on the G&R Lies album, their song “Patience” was immediately followed by “Used to Love Her”.
About says it all....
They were both irresponsible. And you can be sure if she had made it down and he didn't, there would have been no indictment. The burden of responsibility still lies with men, despite all the feminist BS.
“”””An Austrian climber has been found guilty of gross negligent manslaughter after his girlfriend froze to death on Austria’s highest mountain last year. The man, named only as Thomas P in line with Austrian privacy laws, has been given a five-month suspended sentence and fined €9,600 (£8,400).”””
If anyone has a plan to commit Gross Negligent Manslaughter, then the place to do it is in Austria.
“Their” song, ironically, was “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.”
Oops meant to post to #6. I was puzzled at your response until I saw my error.
“He used to love her.”
... but it’s all over now. 🎶
Roped himself a hottie, too soon a coldie.
Guess she was hoping for a big striper.
You should have asked about a snapper.
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