In today’s article, we will talk about Kerstin Gertner, whose name came into the limelight after the trial held in Innsbruck, Austria, on 19 February 2026, where Thomas P. was found guilty of murder by gross negligence. A hearing in an Austrian court has attracted a lot of attention and exposed Kerstin’s name, and now, many questions have been raised about her. We have got all the important information related to him from our sources, so keep reading…

Who Is Thomas Plamberger?

After this court trial, Kerstin Gertner became an important point of discussion in the mountaineering community. The circumstances of this incident began last year in early January 2025, when she and her partner, Thomas Plamberger, attempted to climb Austria’s highest mountain, the Grossglockner (about 3,798 metres). After climbing for more than 17 hours in freezing conditions (with wind chill between −8 °C and −20 °C), Kerstin became severely exhausted and disoriented near the summit.

Her partner, Thomas, left her at around 2:00 AM to descend and find help at a nearby mountain hut. He returned with rescuers more than six hours later, but unfortunately, Kerstin had already died. According to the forensic report, she could not complete her climb and died due to hypothermia (extreme cold) and was suffering from viral pneumonia. Further, she had taken ibuprofen, which may have caused her to tire faster. During the climb, her partner left her near the summit to go and seek help.

Who Was Kerstin Gertner?

Kerstin Gurtner was 33 years old at the time of her death, and she died due to hypothermia while climbing the highest peak of Austria. She was not someone who followed others “blindly.” She had a great passion for mountain climbing and was known as a strong-willed person who had mastered several difficult climbing tours, sometimes alone and sometimes with her boyfriend, Thomas Plamberger. Yes, she was in a relationship with Thomas, and the couple operated on “equal terms”. No exact details have been revealed related to her occupation. She was unmarried but in a relationship with Thomas. She died at 33 on 50 meters below the Grossglockner summit.

What Happened to Thomas Plamberger?

On the other side, Thomas Plamberger is a 37-year-old chef and an experienced climber who was found guilty of grossly negligent manslaughter in a court in Innsbruck, Austria, on 19 February 2026. Reportedly, he was the boyfriend of Kerstin, but there is no public information that the couple was married or that they had any children. Thomas was a chef, popularly known as an “excellent alpinist.” He shares his climbing exploits on social media.

What Happened at Austria’s Court?

Recently, after a trial, he received a five-month suspended prison sentence and was ordered to pay a fine of approximately €9,400. He was convicted because he was much more experienced than Kerstin, who lost her life during the climb. Legally, he was Kerstin’s “de facto guide”. The court found that he made several mistakes, such as starting the climb too late, not returning when the weather turned bad, and failing to use the emergency blanket in his bag to keep Kerstin warm before leaving her. Now, after a long time, the court has made its final decision on 19 February 2026, and this news is gathering huge attention from the critics.