In Innsbruck, Austria, a court found Thomas Plamberger guilty of homicide through gross negligence after he abandoned his partner, Kerstin Gurtner, in extreme conditions while attempting to summit the Grossglockner, Austria's highest peak. Plamberger received a five-month suspended prison sentence and was fined €9,400. The incident, which captivated public attention, was notably recorded by a summit webcam capturing their last hours together.

The tragic event occurred in January 2025, when the couple attempted the challenging Stüdlgrat ridge. Gurtner, who lacked the necessary experience for demanding winter climbs at high altitudes, reportedly communicated to Plamberger around 9 PM, just fifty meters from the summit, expressing distress as conditions deteriorated. Investigations showed several significant errors made by Plamberger during their ascent, which ultimately led to the unfortunate circumstances.

This case has sparked discussions in the mountaineering community regarding safety protocols and the responsibilities of climbers to one another. The harrowing nature of the incident, compounded by the evidence gathered from the webcam, has highlighted the need for increased awareness and caution in extreme climbing conditions, especially for those less experienced in such treacherous environments.