A Woman Froze to Death on an Alpine Trek. Is Her Boyfriend to Blame?

New York Times - WorldCenter-LeftEN 7 min read 100% complete by Jonathan WolfeDecember 20, 2025 at 11:01 AM

AI Summary

long article 7 min

In Austria, a man faces charges of gross negligent manslaughter after his girlfriend froze to death during an alpine trek on Grossglockner mountain in January 2025. The couple was nearing the summit when the woman became exhausted, and the man left her to seek help. Rescuers found her body near the summit the following morning. The case has sparked debate about personal responsibility in mountaineering and its impact on Austria's alpine tourism industry, which has seen increased accidents due to underprepared climbers. The legal proceedings will explore the extent to which one person is responsible for another's safety during risky activities.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Salzburg 40% University of Innsbruck 50% Severin Glaser 60% Austrian Alps 60% Grossglockner ×480% Austria ×590%

Keywords

mountaineering 80% personal responsibility 80% alpine trek 70% negligent manslaughter 70% austria 60% mountain accident 60% grossglockner 60% alpine tourism 50% legal tradition 50%