Climber faces manslaughter charge after leaving girlfriend on Austria’s tallest peak

The Guardian - World NewsEN 3 min read 100% complete by Kate Connolly in BerlinFebruary 18, 2026 at 06:35 PM

AI Summary

medium article 3 min

An Austrian mountaineer, Thomas P, is facing a manslaughter charge for the death of his girlfriend, Kerstin G, on Austria's highest peak, the Großglockner, in January 2025. Prosecutors allege that Thomas P, the more experienced climber, made critical errors leading to Kerstin G's death from hypothermia after a challenging 17-hour ascent. He left her near the summit to seek help, but she froze to death. The prosecution argues that Thomas P failed in his duty of care by proceeding despite adverse weather, inadequate equipment, and Kerstin G's inexperience, and by not calling for help sooner. The trial in Innsbruck will examine whether his actions constitute gross negligence, potentially setting a precedent for responsibility in mountain sports.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Innsbruck 40% Hansjörg Mayr 50% Kurt Jelinek 50% Großglockner 70% Austria ×280% Kerstin G ×590% Thomas P ×990%

Keywords

manslaughter 90% mountaineering accident 80% gross negligence 70% hypothermia 70% mountain climbing 60% climber responsibility 60% austria 50% großglockner 50% tour guide acting as a courtesy 40% challenging weather conditions 40%