Austrian Court Convicts Climber in Girlfriend’s Mountain Death

Thursday, February 19, 2026 at 5:18 PM

A 37-year-old mountaineer was found guilty of manslaughter after his girlfriend died from exposure near Austria's tallest peak. The man received a suspended prison sentence for leaving her behind to seek assistance.

VIENNA – A court in Austria has convicted a 37-year-old recreational climber of manslaughter in connection with his girlfriend’s fatal exposure to cold temperatures near the country’s tallest mountain, according to Austrian media outlets.

The tribunal in Innsbruck, located in western Austria, sentenced the man to five months in prison, though the term was suspended. Officials determined he caused the woman’s death through severe negligence when he abandoned her to seek rescue assistance in January 2025.

The tragic incident occurred in the vicinity of Austria’s highest peak, where the woman succumbed to the extreme cold conditions after being left alone during the climbing expedition.

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