The Breakdown 34

• Thomas Plamberger, an Austrian climber, was convicted of manslaughter for leaving his girlfriend, Kerstin Gurtner, to die of hypothermia on Grossglockner, Austria's highest peak, during a perilous winter ascent in January 2025.
• The court determined that Plamberger, as the more experienced climber, held a crucial duty of care, which he failed when he abandoned Gurtner to seek help.
• Despite his claims that Gurtner urged him to continue alone, the prosecution illustrated a tragic negligence in his decision-making amidst life-threatening conditions.
• Plamberger received a five-month suspended prison sentence and a fine of €9,400, but the case resonated far beyond sentencing, raising pressing questions about responsibility in extreme sports.
• This landmark conviction sent ripples throughout the climbing community, prompting discussions on the ethical obligations climbers have towards their companions.
• Gurtner's death serves as a somber reminder of the inherent dangers of mountaineering and the vital importance of safety planning and mutual support in such treacherous endeavors.