An Austrian climber, Thomas P, is in court accused of gross negligent manslaughter after his girlfriend, Kerstin G, died of hypothermia near the summit of Großglockner, Austria’s tallest mountain. On January 19, 2025, Kerstin froze to death about 50 meters below the summit after a grueling 17-hour climb. Prosecutors say Thomas, the more experienced climber, made risky decisions that led to her death. If found guilty, he faces up to three years in prison. The couple started their climb on January 18 but faced extreme weather. Temperatures dropped to nearly -9°C with wind chills near -20°C and strong gusts of 45 mph. Around 2 am, Thomas left Kerstin—exhausted, unprotected, and disoriented—to go for help. Thomas denies the charges. Senior public prosecutor Hansjörg Mayr says Thomas had the main responsibility as the more skilled climber and lists nine key errors. These include starting late, ignoring Kerstin’s lack of experience, not having proper emergency gear, and wearing unsuitable snowboard boots. Prosecutors also question why Thomas did not turn back sooner or send distress signals. Thomas’s lawyer, Kurt Jelinek, calls the deaths “a tragic accident” and says they were both experienced and well-prepared. Over 7,000 climbers scale the 3,798-meter Großglockner yearly, with about 200 deaths recorded, but Kerstin’s case has drawn unusual attention. Kerstin’s mother, Gertraud G, who will testify in court, does not blame Thomas. She called the accusations a “witch-hunt” and defended her daughter’s skill and physical fitness. Gertraud told Die Zeit, “Kerstin was in top physical condition. She had already mastered far more difficult climbing tours, both alone and with her boyfriend.”