'Left His Girlfriend Alone at Minus 20°C Summit... Man Descends Alone, Woman Dies After Shivering All Night in Extreme Cold'

[Financial News] A woman in her 30s died after being left alone at the summit of the Republic of Austria's highest peak, which she had climbed with her professional mountaineer boyfriend.
According to foreign media outlets such as The Sun and the New York Post on the 8th, Ms. B, a novice climber, was ascending Grossglockner in the Republic of Austria with her boyfriend, Mr. A, last January. About 50 meters from the summit, she became unable to continue due to exhaustion, hypothermia, and disorientation.
However, Mr. A decided to descend the mountain, leaving Ms. B behind at the summit. The woman was left alone in the severe cold for approximately 6 hours and 30 minutes, ultimately dying from exposure.
Authorities found that the pair began their ascent more than two hours later than planned and did not carry proper emergency equipment. In particular, Ms. B was dressed inappropriately for the extreme weather, with wind chills nearing minus 20°C.
While descending alone, Mr. A did not move the woman to a sheltered spot or take even minimal measures to keep her warm.
Local prosecutors argued that Mr. A ignored warning signs and continued the climb, failing to contact rescue teams before sunset.
According to prosecutors, the pair became stranded around 8:50 p.m., but Mr. A did not signal to a police helicopter searching nearby or respond to repeated police calls.
Mr. A did not request rescue until 3:30 a.m. the next day. Due to strong winds, the helicopter's dispatch was delayed, and when rescuers arrived around 10 a.m., Ms. B had already passed away.
Prosecutors stated, "As an experienced mountaineer, Mr. A should have accompanied his girlfriend with greater responsibility, especially since he planned the climb."
In response, Mr. A's attorney countered that it was simply a tragic accident. The trial is scheduled for February 19 next year.
moon@fnnews.com Moon Young-jin Reporter