The identity of the woman who tragically froze to death near the peak of Austria’s Grossglockner mountain has been revealed as 33-year-old Kerstin Gutner. The incident occurred on January 19, when Gutner and her boyfriend, Thomas Plamberger, an experienced mountaineer, attempted to reach the summit. Gutner, a self-proclaimed “winter child” and “mountain person,” was less than 150 feet from the summit when she succumbed to the harsh conditions.
Plamberger, 39, is now facing charges of negligent homicide for his role in the fatal expedition. The couple embarked on their journey in freezing temperatures, with Gutner, a novice climber, navigating through over 12,000 feet in -4 degree Fahrenheit conditions. The Innsbruck public prosecutor’s office stated that around 2:00 a.m., Plamberger left Gutner unprotected, exhausted, and disoriented just below the summit, leading to her freezing to death.
The couple found themselves stranded from 8:50 p.m. onwards. However, Plamberger reportedly did not make an emergency call or send out any distress signals, even when a police helicopter flew nearby at 10:50 p.m. Webcam images later revealed the couple’s camp near the peak of Grossglockner, where Gutner was found deceased.
Plamberger contacted the Alpine Police at 1:35 a.m., but then put his phone on silent, according to prosecutors. Approximately 30 minutes later, he allegedly left Gutner to die on the icy mountain, failing to cover her with available emergency blankets. A trail camera spotted him descending the mountain at 2:30 a.m., leaving Gutner behind near the summit.
Plamberger reached out to emergency services again at 3:30 a.m., according to prosecutors. His lawyer, Kurt Jelinek, has maintained Plamberger’s innocence, describing Gutner’s death as a “tragic, fateful accident.”
Following the incident, tributes for Gutner flooded a memorial page dedicated to her. One commenter wrote, “Rest in heavenly peace,” while another said, “Behind the tears of grief lies the smile of remembrance.” Plamberger was charged on Thursday, and his trial is expected to begin in February. If convicted, he could face up to three years in prison.