All articles tagged with #austria
Austria’s Tirol region endured a wave of deadly avalanches triggered by heavy snowfall and strong winds, with at least five people killed in St Anton am Arlberg and additional fatalities in Nauders-Bergkastel and Klösterle. Dozens of rescue teams were deployed as nearly 200 avalanche incidents were recorded in the past week and more than 200 in total this past week, with conditions described as turbulent and likely to continue.
Thomas Plamberger, 39, was convicted of gross negligent manslaughter for abandoning his girlfriend Kerstin Gurtner on Austria’s highest peak, the Grossglockner, where she froze to death in January 2025. He received a suspended five‑month prison sentence and a €9,600 fine. Prosecutors say he previously abandoned a prior girlfriend on a mountain hike, a claim supported by that ex’s testimony; Plammerger denied it, while webcam footage and rescue records were cited in court.
A 37-year-old man was found guilty of grossly negligent manslaughter for leaving his inexperienced girlfriend on Austria’s highest mountain, the Grossglockner, where she later froze to death. The Innsbruck Regional Court sentenced him to a suspended five-month prison term and a €9,600 fine, noting factors like his clean record and the loss of a relative; the verdict can be appealed.
Thomas Plamberger, 39, was convicted of gross negligent manslaughter for abandoning his girlfriend Kerstin Gurtner on Austria’s Grossglockner in January 2025, leading to her death by freezing. He received a suspended five‑month prison term and a €9,600 fine after prosecutors said he descended the mountain while she remained behind and silenced his phone; prosecutors also alleged a prior similar abandonment of a former girlfriend who survived and testified in court.
An Austrian climber was found guilty of gross negligent manslaughter after his girlfriend died of hypothermia during a winter ascent on the Grossglockner. He received a five-month suspended sentence and a €9,600 fine. The court cited the girlfriend's lack of winter climbing experience and his role as the more experienced climber, while prosecutors argued he should have turned back or called for help; the case has sparked debate about risk and criminal liability in mountaineering.
An Austrian climber faces gross negligent manslaughter charges after leaving his girlfriend about 50 metres below the summit of Austria’s tallest peak, the Großglockner, during a 17-hour ascent that ended with her dying of hypothermia. Prosecutors say his experience and risky decisions made him responsible; he denies liability, calling it a tragic accident, while the case probes the responsibilities of the more experienced climber in alpine conditions. The trial begins in Innsbruck.
An experienced Austrian climber, Thomas Plamberger, is facing negligent manslaughter charges after his girlfriend Kerstin Gurtner froze to death on Austria's Grossglockner. Prosecutors allege nine planning and equipment mistakes and a delayed call for help; Plamberger reportedly left her near the summit, returning hours later to find her dead. He denies wrongdoing; a conviction could carry up to three years in prison as the trial begins.
A climber identified by Austrian media as Thomas P goes on trial in Innsbruck for allegedly abandoning his exhausted girlfriend during a winter ascent of Austria's highest peak, the Grossglockner, resulting in her death from hypothermia; prosecutors argue he was the experienced guide who should have turned back or called for help, while his defense says they were prepared; a guilty verdict could reshape liability standards for climbers, with potential prison time up to three years.
Austria's Daniel Tschofenig was disqualified from the men's large hill event at the Winter Olympics after officials found his boots were four millimetres larger than permitted, ending his medal bid despite qualifying; Domen Prevc won gold, Ren Nikaido silver, and Kacper Tomasiak bronze.
Austria’s Ariane Raedler and Katharina Huber won the women’s team combined event at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo, with Mikaela Shiffrin finishing fourth.
Eight skiers were killed in three separate avalanches in Austria on Saturday, despite authorities' warnings about high avalanche risk. In Bad Hofgastein, a female skier was buried around 12:30 p.m. at about 7,200 feet. About 90 minutes later, an avalanche in the Gastein Valley swept seven people; four died, two were seriously injured, and one escaped unharmed. In Pusterwald, three Czech skiers were killed before 4:30 p.m., with four companions evacuated. Rescue efforts included helicopters, mountain dogs, and crisis teams. The tragedy underscores ongoing avalanche danger even as warnings persist.
Five off-piste skiers died in two avalanches in Austria’s Pongau region near Salzburg after heavy snowfall; four fatalities and one serious injury occurred in the main incident, with another skier buried earlier in the day, underscoring dangerous avalanche conditions across the Alps amid ongoing snowfall.
Christmas markets across Europe are heavily fortified with barriers, armed police, and surveillance due to increased threats of violence, leading to cancellations and heightened security measures amid fears of attacks.
A group of elderly Austrian nuns have refused to give up their social media accounts and stay in their convent after fleeing a care home, rejecting church authorities' conditions and seeking Vatican intervention, highlighting a clash between religious life, human rights, and modern media.
Beauty influencer Stefanie Pieper was found dead in a Slovenian forest at age 31, with her ex-boyfriend allegedly confessing to her murder and being extradited from Slovenia to Austria. The case involves multiple arrests and a recent disappearance after a holiday party.