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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Man left his girlfriend to freeze to death

828 replies

Trevordidit · 20/02/2026 02:13

Man left his girlfriend to freeze when she was struggling on a mountain hike.

He's been found guilty of manslaughter.

So many aspects of his account don't make sense - AIBU to wonder if he did it on purpose?

News article

OP posts:
Thread gallery
31
Reinventedblanket · 20/02/2026 02:27

It's really confusing. On the face of it I mean obviously he'd need to leave to get help if she couldn't go on, that seems totally reasonable, but then the rest of it is just odd, leaving her without giving her blanket, not answering return calls from rescue services etc.

Onceuponasunflower · 20/02/2026 02:35

There is so much contradictory information. Like her mother saying she was an experienced hiker, when so much of the prosecution argument appeared to rest on her being inexperienced and he was experienced and should have predicted the outcome?

HelenaWaiting · 20/02/2026 02:38

Anyone got a share token please?

Trevordidit · 20/02/2026 02:43

Reinventedblanket · 20/02/2026 02:27

It's really confusing. On the face of it I mean obviously he'd need to leave to get help if she couldn't go on, that seems totally reasonable, but then the rest of it is just odd, leaving her without giving her blanket, not answering return calls from rescue services etc.

It's very confusing and why did he not attempt to hail the rescue helicopter? And why actively avoid those search abd rescue phone calls?

The reports of them having had a heated argument beforehand and the fact she suddenly became unwell - I wonder if there was more actual intent on his part.

OP posts:
2UNDR2 · 20/02/2026 02:45

Can someone C&P the article?

PithyViewer · 20/02/2026 02:50

Reinventedblanket · 20/02/2026 02:27

It's really confusing. On the face of it I mean obviously he'd need to leave to get help if she couldn't go on, that seems totally reasonable, but then the rest of it is just odd, leaving her without giving her blanket, not answering return calls from rescue services etc.

The article says that there's a mountain rescue number to call, though, which he did at 12.35 am. So he could have stayed with her.

tangotingo · 20/02/2026 02:59

It’s all very weird, and I’m unfortunately inclined to think he knew full well what he was doing.

If your partner has been taken ill on a mountain and is laying on the floor freezing, your instinct would not be to leave them. You would be attempting to warm them up by any means necessary and you would talk to them in an attempt keep them conscious.

Back in the days before mobile phones, he might not have had any option other than to go down and seek help, but he did have access to a phone. As soon as it becomes clear that your partner doesn’t just need a break and has actually been taken seriously unwell, you would look to contact emergency services straight away. Even if there’s a lack of signal, smartphones these days can satellite call in emergencies.

Yes people sometimes panic in emergency situations and may not make the best decisions, but I think his behaviour goes way beyond that and into intent.

Shitmonger · 20/02/2026 03:01

Another one?? There have been two recent cases in North America (don’t remember if it was US, Canada, or both) of men doing this as a form of murder. One killed his partner and
the other killed his children, though as I recall there were three and at least one child survived.

Fucking despicable.

tangotingo · 20/02/2026 03:08

Onceuponasunflower · 20/02/2026 02:35

There is so much contradictory information. Like her mother saying she was an experienced hiker, when so much of the prosecution argument appeared to rest on her being inexperienced and he was experienced and should have predicted the outcome?

Does it state anywhere what the mother’s stance toward the boyfriend is?

I wonder if the mother is suggesting that she does not believe her daughter has become unwell on the mountain purely due to a lack of preparation and appropriate gear, and whether she is suggesting that the boyfriend had a more proactive role in her becoming incapacitated.

tangotingo · 20/02/2026 03:14

He’s got form too - a previous partner testified she did the same mountain with him and he fucked off and left her as they were descending as she was “too slow”, leaving her terrified.

He’s an utter sicko.

SalmonOnFinnCrisp · 20/02/2026 03:17

He was found guilty and got a suspended sentence and fined less than 10k.

Let that sink in...
Her life was worth less than 10k

Her mother.... presumably due to being mad with grief (because why the f else would you?) was apparently one of his most vocal supporters. 🤯🤯🤯🤯

ChocolateDigestiveBiscuit · 20/02/2026 03:18

Of course he did it in purpose, AND he did it to another woman !!!! "Prosecutors called an ex-girlfriend of his as a witness, who testified that they too had climbed the Grossglockner together in 2023 and after an argument over the route he left her alone at night, crying as her headlamp ran out of battery."
What an ASSHOLE. He should have gotten a murder charge.

nomas · 20/02/2026 03:22

Unforgivable. He allegedly let his girlfriend climb a 4k feet mountain in soft boots and didn't call for help even though he had a mobile.

Prosecutors say the couple got stuck at about 20:50 and that the man failed to call the police and did not send any distress signals when a police helicopter flew overhead at around 22:50.

At 00:35 on 19 January, he called mountain police. The content of the conversation is unclear but the lawyer says he asked for help and denies telling police that everything was fine. Police allege he then put his phone on silent and did not take any more calls.

Prosecutors say he did not use aluminium rescue blankets or other gear to protect her from the cold and waited until 03:30 before notifying emergency services.

tangotingo · 20/02/2026 03:27

He really should’ve been done for murder, or if not murder then some sort of abuse charge.

Even if he hadn’t intended for her to die (though I suspect he did intend for her to die), he clearly wanted her to experience terror, pain and distress. Having also abandoned a terrified previous partner on the same hike shows that this appears to be something he gets a kick out of doing. It’s his MO.

This poor woman is not getting any justice. He’ll have the opportunity to do it again to another girlfriend now.

DeftGoldHedgehog · 20/02/2026 03:51

ChocolateDigestiveBiscuit · 20/02/2026 03:18

Of course he did it in purpose, AND he did it to another woman !!!! "Prosecutors called an ex-girlfriend of his as a witness, who testified that they too had climbed the Grossglockner together in 2023 and after an argument over the route he left her alone at night, crying as her headlamp ran out of battery."
What an ASSHOLE. He should have gotten a murder charge.

Attempted murder, surely? Unless it was a very unusual testimony from the ex girlfriend.

Tillow4ever · 20/02/2026 04:03

DeftGoldHedgehog · 20/02/2026 03:51

Attempted murder, surely? Unless it was a very unusual testimony from the ex girlfriend.

I presume they mean murder charge for the poor woman who died, not the ex girlfriend who testified.

LoudBlueSeal · 20/02/2026 05:22

sounds like he needs a push in the right direction, next time he goes climbing,,,

Larene · 20/02/2026 05:58

I was absolutely horrified to read that the poor woman had been clinging to a rock face for two hours in the freezing cold before she died.

The bf didn’t leave her a blanket, emergency shelter etc. Or even leave her in a wind protected spot. To deny help from rescuers is unforgivable.

Newnamehiwhodis · 20/02/2026 06:01

god that poor woman.
I hope he rots in prison.

AnnaQuayRules · 20/02/2026 06:04

It's horrible to read. Also, when he went to get help, he didn't just turn round and go down, he climbed on to summit the mountain and then descended on the other side!

I understand that maybe it was an easier descent on the other side so would have been quicker to get help but it just feels wrong, like his priority was to summit the mountain, not to help his girlfriend.

I'm amazed the sentence was so light.

babyproblems · 20/02/2026 06:08

@Newnamehiwhodis hes been found guilty but given a suspended sentence and fined €9600.

Shocking. I absolutely think he did it on purpose and if he didn’t, his judgement is beyond diabolical. It’s murder of another women by her partner, just up a mountain. The fine is an absolute smack in the face.
No mention of her father in the article.

PithyViewer · 20/02/2026 06:14

tangotingo · 20/02/2026 02:59

It’s all very weird, and I’m unfortunately inclined to think he knew full well what he was doing.

If your partner has been taken ill on a mountain and is laying on the floor freezing, your instinct would not be to leave them. You would be attempting to warm them up by any means necessary and you would talk to them in an attempt keep them conscious.

Back in the days before mobile phones, he might not have had any option other than to go down and seek help, but he did have access to a phone. As soon as it becomes clear that your partner doesn’t just need a break and has actually been taken seriously unwell, you would look to contact emergency services straight away. Even if there’s a lack of signal, smartphones these days can satellite call in emergencies.

Yes people sometimes panic in emergency situations and may not make the best decisions, but I think his behaviour goes way beyond that and into intent.

Edited

I agree, and he did it to a previous girlfriend too!

missbish · 20/02/2026 06:22

What a fucking evil bastard.

PumpkinsAndCoconuts · 20/02/2026 06:26

tangotingo · 20/02/2026 03:14

He’s got form too - a previous partner testified she did the same mountain with him and he fucked off and left her as they were descending as she was “too slow”, leaving her terrified.

He’s an utter sicko.

Edited

I‘ve been (loosely) following this case (well, pretty hard not to where I’m at seeing as it’s a fairly big „news item“ here).

And I just saw this update this morning. He has apparently done the same to an ex-girlfriend?? Wtf?

The mother of the young woman publicly defended the perpetrator... Which made this case all the more confusing.