A 39-year-old Austrian man has been arrested and charged with manslaughter after allegedly abandoning his girlfriend during a winter ascent of Grossglockner, the highest mountain in Austria. According to The Metro, the 33-year-old woman died of exposure in January after being left “exhausted, hypothermic and unprotected” just 150 feet below the 12,460-foot summit.
Authorities say the woman was a beginner in high-altitude climbing, while the man was an experienced mountaineer from Salzburg who had planned the climb.
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What did the Prosecutors say?
Prosecutors told The Metro that because the man organised the excursion and had advanced alpine expertise, he effectively acted as the guide and was responsible for ensuring her safety. Investigators found that the climbers started their ascent two hours late and were not carrying essential emergency equipment.
The woman was wearing unsuitable gear for the harsh alpine terrain, including a splitboard and soft snow boots, as reported by The Metro. Severe weather hit the mountain during their ascent, with winds reaching 46 mph and temperatures that felt like minus 20°C.
Investigators allege the man continued the climb despite obvious signs of danger and his partner’s deteriorating condition. Reports also state he failed to call emergency services before nightfall and missed several calls from rescuers after putting his phone on silent. His distress call was made only at 3:30 am.
When rescue teams reached the woman at around 10 am, she had already died. High winds later delayed helicopter assistance at dawn.
Defence says it was a tragic accident
According to statements cited by The Metro, the man’s lawyer has argued that the death was a tragic accident and not a result of deliberate negligence.
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The case is scheduled to be heard at the Innsbruck Regional Court on February 19, 2026.
This incident comes shortly after another reported tragedy involving 47-year-old climber Natalia Nagovitsyna, who died on Kyrgyzstan’s Pobeda Peak, where extreme conditions prevented rescuers from reaching her.
