Austrian Woman Left to Die on Mountain by Experienced Mountaineer Boyfriend

A 33-year-old Austrian woman, Kerstin Gurtner, died after her boyfriend, a seasoned mountaineer, allegedly left her to fend for herself on the summit of the Grossglockner mountain. According to prosecutors, Thomas Plamberger, 39, who had led Gurtner up the mountain, abandoned her in -4 degree Fahrenheit temperatures, despite her being exhausted, hypothermic, and disoriented. Gurtner, a self-proclaimed 'winter child' and 'mountain person,' was an inexperienced climber who had trekked over 12,000 feet to reach the summit of Austria's highest peak. Plamberger, on the other hand, had extensive experience with high-altitude tours and was considered the responsible guide for the trip. The couple became stranded on the mountain at 8:50 pm, but Plamberger did not call for help or raise an alarm even after spotting a police helicopter nearby at 10:50 pm. It was not until 1:35 am that Plamberger contacted Alpine Police officers, but he left Gurtner behind, uncovered and exposed to the elements, about 30 minutes later. Gurtner's body was found near the summit, and Plamberger is now facing negligent homicide charges. If convicted, he could face up to three years in prison. Tributes have poured in for Gurtner, with friends and family expressing their condolences and shock at the tragic event. An investigation into Gurtner's death is ongoing, with Plamberger's trial set to begin in February.