A mountain climber is facing manslaughter charges after leaving his girlfriend stranded on Grossglockner, Austria’s tallest peak, while he went for help. A webcam pointed at the summit captured the tragic scene, showing the lights of the two climbers as events unfolded.
The 36-year-old man has been described as an experienced climber, while his 33-year-old partner had far less experience. The couple had successfully reached the summit but ran into trouble on their descent. In a desperate move, the man chose to go down alone to seek help.
Webcam footage shows the couple’s lights on the mountain around 2 a.m., about 50 meters from the summit. One light moves downward while the other remains still. Hours later, the stationary light begins to fade as the woman’s strength diminishes.
Prosecutors say the man left her “unprotected, exhausted, hypothermic, and disoriented,” and she tragically froze to death before rescuers could reach her. As the more experienced climber, he was considered responsible for guiding the expedition. He now faces up to three years in prison for grossly negligent manslaughter.
Investigators highlighted several mistakes that may have contributed to the tragedy. The man reportedly failed to consider his partner’s inexperience, started the climb two hours late, ignored worsening weather, and brought inadequate emergency equipment. When he left to get help, he did not shelter her from the wind or provide essential survival gear. He also delayed calling for rescue, only contacting authorities around 12:35 a.m., hours after becoming stranded.
The man’s defense attorney insists this was “a tragic, fateful accident.” The trial is scheduled for February 19, 2026.
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