Climber Convicted Of Manslaughter For Leaving Girlfriend On Mountain Had Previously Abandoned Another Girlfriend On A Mountain

Remember the story of the man who abandoned his girlfriend on the tallest mountain in Austria and left her there to freeze to death? Turns out he’s got a bit of a habit of doing this sort of thing to the women he dates.

Thomas Plamberger, 39, left girlfriend Kerstin Gurtner, 33, alone for nearly 7 hours in -20C temperatures on Austria’s 12,640ft Grossglockner Mountain, as he went to get help. She died of hypothermia before rescuers could reach her.

This week, Plamberger was convicted of gross negligent manslaughter, and the court also heard he had abandoned another girlfriend on the exact same mountainside just two years earlier.

His former girlfriend, Andrea Bergener, testified that Plamberger abandoned her at night on the Grossglockner in 2023. She told the court he had left her alone during a nighttime descent because he thought she was moving too slowly. She described being “at the end of my tether,” dizzy, and crying in the dark after her headlamp failed, only for Plamberger to suddenly disappear ahead of her.

I mean, losing one girlfriend on top of a mountain is careless, but two…?

In the case of Kerstin Gurtner’s death,  when you look at the list of f-ck-ups that her ‘experienced’ mountaineer boyfriend made, it really does make you wonder. Here’s a rundown:

– Undertook the challenging, high-altitude winter climb with his novice girlfriend, who had never done a tour of that length and difficulty before.

– Started the ascent two hours later than originally planned.

– Allowed his girlfriend to wear soft snowboard boots, which are considered unsuitable for the mixed terrain of the high-alpine tour.

– Ignored weather warnings;  including wind speeds up to 46 mph and temperatures that felt like minus 20°C with wind chill.

– Did not carry sufficient emergency bivouac equipment, such as a bivvy bag, and failed to use the emergency blankets he did have.

–  Failed to move his girlfriend to a sheltered spot or wrap her in the emergency blankets, leaving her unprotected and exposed to the wind.

–  The couple became stranded around 8:50 p.m., but he did not call emergency services until 12:35 a.m. (some sources say 3:30 a.m.)

The next three points are where is gets really suspicious though…

– Did not give a distress signal when a police helicopter flew over their location at 10:50 p.m.

– After finally speaking to an officer around 12:35 a.m., Plamberger put his phone on silent and stowed it away, missing several subsequent calls from the Alpine Police.

– He left his girlfriend alone for nearly seven hours to descend the mountain for help, an action that prosecutors say contributed to her death from exposure.

In the end, the judge ruled that Plamberger had misjudged the situation, and that he had not intended for this outcome, telling him: “I don’t see you as a murderer, I don’t see you as cold-hearted.”

Plamberger was given 5 months in prison, suspended for a three-year probation period, and a fine of €9,600 (around $11,300 or £8,400). I think he’s had a touch there, tbh.

RIP Kerstin Gurtner and thoughts with her friends and family.

For the boyfriend who continued competing at a fitness event as paramedics treated his passed-out girlfriend, click HERE.