Climber caught on webcam abandoning girlfriend on Austrian mountain

A seasoned climber has been formally charged with manslaughter after allegedly abandoning his girlfriend on Austrias highest mountain, resulting in her death from hypothermia. The 36-year-old from Salzburg reportedly made multiple critical errors during a climb of Grossglockner in January with his 33-year-old partner.

The couple were approximately 150 feet from the 12,460-foot summit when the woman collapsed from exhaustion around 8:50 PM, telling her partner she could not continue. He chose to descend alone to seek help, leaving her behind. He was absent for more than six hours, during which time his girlfriend succumbed to the cold.

Webcam footage documents the events. Initial images show both climbers torches moving upward toward the peak around 6 PM on January 18. Six hours later, only faint light remained as their torches weakened. Later images capture the man descending the mountain alone, torch still functioning, leaving his partner behind.

The following morning, a helicopter search was attempted at 7 AM but had to be aborted due to strong winds. Three hours later, a rescue team reached the woman, but she was already deceased.

The climber now faces manslaughter and gross negligence charges. If convicted, he could face up to three years in prison, with his trial scheduled for February in Innsbruck.

Prosecutors identified nine serious mistakes made by the climber. Among them, they noted he should not have begun the climb due to his girlfriends lack of high-altitude winter climbing experience. He also departed two hours later than planned, carried no emergency bivouac equipment, and his partner wore inappropriate footwear for the terrain.

Further criticisms included proceeding despite 46 mph winds and -8C temperatures (feeling like -20C with wind chill), failing to signal distress when a helicopter passed at 10:50 PM, and delaying police contact until 12:35 AM while putting his phone on silent. Additionally, he did not shelter his partner from the wind or wrap her in emergency blankets they had brought.

Prosecutors stated: At around 2 AM, the defendant left his girlfriend unprotected, exhausted, hypothermic, and disoriented about 50 meters below the summit cross of Grossglockner. She froze to death. Given his extensive high-altitude experience and his role in planning the climb, he was the responsible guide.

Despite her inexperience and the hazardous winter conditions, the man led the alpine tour via the Stdlgrat route on Grossglockner.

Author: Logan Reeves