More than a year after a 33-year-old woman froze to death on Austria’s highest mountain, her boyfriend goes on trial on Thursday accused of gross negligent manslaughter.
Kerstin G died of hypothermia on a mountain climbing trip to the Grossglockner that went horribly wrong. Her boyfriend is accused of leaving her unprotected and exhausted close to the summit in stormy conditions in the early hours of 19 January 2025, while he went to get help.
The trial has sparked interest and debate, not just in Austria but in mountain climbing communities far beyond its borders.
I think it really depends how dangerous it would have been for him to stay with her.
On Everest, if someone is incapacitated, then there’s no point waiting with them because then you’d die too and no rescue is coming.
This situation is different because a rescue could be mounted, and its not certain the guy would’ve died if he had have waited with her.
Like imagine you’re swimming a few hundred metres from the beach and your partner gets a cramp, do you just say “oh well you knew the risks” and leave them?
Only if you planned to breakup before, it avoid the uncomfortable situation for both person once you announced it and swim away 👍