Austrian police have launched a formal investigation against a 21-year-old German man on suspicion of endangering public safety. The probe comes after his 17-year-old female friend was left stranded in freezing sub-zero conditions on Zugspitze, which stands as Germany's highest mountain with an altitude of 2,962m or 9,718 ft.
The ordeal began in the early hours of Sunday when the pair set off from the resort of Ehrwald in the Austrian Tyrol. Their initial objective was to reach the summit and witness the sunrise from the top of the peak. However, adverse weather conditions quickly deteriorated their journey, leaving the two climbers knee-deep in snow according to local reports, forcing an urgent change in their plans.
A mountain rescuer told the German Press Agency DPA that temperatures on that specific morning had plummeted to -12C. Zugspitze, situated near the southern Bavarian resort of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, is a popular destination frequently visited by explorers, families, and sports enthusiasts alike.
At some point during the ascent, the two companions separated, and the 21-year-old male descended the mountain alone. The exact reason behind their separation remains unclear, and a police spokesperson declined to provide further comments, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation.
Faced with extreme conditions, the teenager managed to call emergency services for assistance. A rescue operation involving seven mountain rescuers was dispatched, and a helicopter eventually airlifted the teenager off the mountain from an altitude of about 2,500m or 8,200ft.
She was suffering from severe hypothermia following the ordeal and was rushed by ambulance to a hospital in nearby Garmisch-Partenkirchen, located just over the border in Germany, before eventually being discharged.
Under Austrian law, anyone found guilty of endangering another person's physical safety faces potential punishment of up to three months in prison. Police have stated that once their current investigation concludes, a comprehensive report will be forwarded to Innsbruck public prosecutors to determine if formal criminal offenses were committed.
Although the teenager survived this harrowing incident, the events on Zugspitze bear a striking resemblance to a fatal tragedy on Austria's highest peak, the Grossglockner, which occurred in January 2025. In that case, a 33-year-old woman froze to death after her boyfriend left her behind on the mountain, and he was subsequently found guilty of grossly negligent manslaughter.
During court proceedings, the boyfriend insisted he had only left her temporarily to seek help, telling the judge that he loved his girlfriend dearly and felt deeply sorry. That case reverberated deeply throughout the international mountaineering community, with prosecutors successfully arguing that his greater experience placed the responsibility on him as the trip's leader, and he had failed to turn back or call for help in time.
