Archive · 8 Dec 2025
Austrian Woman Dies of Hypothermia on Mountain
A woman named Kerstin Gurtner went hiking with her boyfriend, Thomas, on a very tall mountain called Grossglockner.
It was very cold and windy, and Kerstin got tired and confused.
Thomas left her to get help but didn't use any blankets or a special sleeping bag to keep her warm.
He also didn't call for help right away.
When rescuers found Kerstin the next day, she had frozen to death.
Now, Thomas is in trouble for not taking care of her, and people are very sad about what happened to Kerstin.
Doctors say that when it's very cold, our bodies can't keep warm, and we can get sick or even die if we don't have the right clothes or help.
Kerstin Gurtner, a 33-year-old Austrian woman, froze to death on the Grossglockner mountain after being left by her boyfriend, Thomas Plamberger.
The couple started their climb late and faced extreme conditions, including temperatures as low as -20°C and hurricane-force winds.
Prosecutors allege that Plamberger left Gurtner unprotected and did not use available emergency supplies to keep her warm.
Plamberger is charged with manslaughter by gross negligence and faces up to three years in prison if convicted.
Friends and family have established an online memorial page for Gurtner, expressing shock and sadness, and requesting no accusations or assumptions.
- Who
- Kerstin Gurtner, a 33-year-old Austrian woman, and her boyfriend Thomas Plamberger, a 39-year-old experienced mountaineer.
- What
- Kerstin Gurtner froze to death on the Grossglockner mountain after allegedly being left by her boyfriend.
- When
- The incident occurred in January 2024, with the court case scheduled for February 19, 2026.
- Where
- The incident took place on the Grossglockner mountain in Austria.
- Why
- Prosecutors allege that Thomas Plamberger left Kerstin Gurtner unprotected in extreme weather conditions, leading to her death.
- Victim's Name
- Kerstin Gurtner
- Victim's Age
- 33
- Mountain
- Grossglockner
- Boyfriend's Name
- Thomas Plamberger
- Boyfriend's Age
- 39
- Charges Against Boyfriend
- Manslaughter by gross negligence
- Possible Sentence
- Up to three years in prison
- Court Date
- February 19, 2026
- Temperature During Incident
- -20°C
- Weather Conditions
- Hurricane-force winds
