A man who allegedly abandoned his girlfriend to freeze to death on a mountain in the Austrian Alps has now been formally charged in connection with her death. Prosecutors say that despite the circumstances, the man later posted a heartfelt tribute to her on social media, portraying her death as a tragic accident and expressing deep sorrow.
Kerstin Gurtner, 33, died in January while attempting to climb Austria’s Grossglockner, the country’s highest peak. According to Unilad, her boyfriend, described as a seasoned and confident mountaineer, led her on the perilous ascent despite the brutal winter conditions. The pair set out during a period when temperatures on the mountain plunged below –4 degrees Fahrenheit, with conditions deteriorating rapidly as night fell.
Authorities say Gurtner had little to no experience in high-altitude climbing. As the couple approached the summit, she reportedly began showing clear signs of exhaustion and cold stress. At around 8:50 p.m. on 18 January, just 150 feet from the peak, Gurtner collapsed. Investigators say she became disoriented, struggled to continue, and was suffering from severe hypothermia as wind speeds whipped across the mountain at up to 46 mph.
Webcams captured him leaving her behind
Hours after Gurtner collapsed, her boyfriend left her at the top and climbed down alone. Webcams on the mountain recorded the moment. Two lights went up the mountain, but only one came back down.
After the incident, her boyfriend posted a tribute on social media. He wrote: “I miss you so much. It hurts so incredibly much. Forever in my heart. Without you, time is meaningless.” He also signed her parents’ obituary. The case has drawn attention to toxic relationship dynamics and controlling behavior.
Instead of staying with her or calling for immediate rescue, prosecutors allege the boyfriend left her behind and continued on, a decision they say ultimately cost Gurtner her life. Her condition worsened in the freezing temperatures, and she did not survive the night.
The man now faces manslaughter charges for gross negligence. Prosecutors say he failed to protect Gurtner’s life in multiple ways. He did not bring proper equipment for the climb and did not call for help when things went wrong.
A rescue helicopter flew over the couple but the boyfriend’s phone was turned off. Rescue teams could not reach him. At 12:30 am, he contacted Alpine Police, but what he said is unclear. Just after 2 am, he left Gurtner and climbed down alone.
Prosecutors say he left her unprotected, exhausted, and disoriented about 50 meters below the summit. He did not move her to a sheltered spot, use protective bags, or wrap her in emergency blankets. Stories of partners standing by during difficult times stand in stark contrast to this case.
At 3:30 am, after reaching the bottom with his phone still off, he finally notified Alpine Police. Strong winds stopped helicopter rescues at 7 am. When rescuers reached her later, Gurtner was dead. Her boyfriend’s trial is set for February 19, 2026. He could face up to three years in prison.
Published: Dec 9, 2025 05:45 pm