Austrian authorities are investigating a 21-year-old German man after a Zugspitze rescue operation saved a 17-year-old girl who had been left alone on Germany’s highest peak in freezing conditions. The teenager was airlifted to safety after calling emergency services when she became stranded at an altitude of roughly 2,500 metres (8,200 feet).
The incident unfolded early on Sunday when the pair set out from the Austrian resort of Ehrwald in the Tyrol region, hoping to watch the sunrise from the 2,962-metre summit. Temperatures that morning had dropped to -12°C, according to a mountain rescuer who spoke to the German Press Agency DPA.
Poor weather quickly complicated their plans. Austrian media reported that the climbers soon found themselves wading through knee-deep snow, and they abandoned their attempt to reach the top. At some point the two separated, and the man descended the mountain alone. Police have not explained why they split, with a spokesperson declining to comment while the investigation continues.
The 17-year-old, now on her own, called emergency services. Seven mountain rescuers responded, and a helicopter eventually lifted her off the mountain. She was suffering from hypothermia and was taken by ambulance to a hospital in the nearby Bavarian town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, across the border in Germany. She was later discharged.
Austrian police are treating the case as a suspected offence of endangering public safety. Under Austrian law, anyone who puts another person’s physical safety at risk can face up to three months in prison. Once their inquiries are complete, officers will send a report to public prosecutors in Innsbruck, who will determine whether a criminal offence has been committed.
A familiar pattern on alpine peaks
The episode has revived memories of a fatal accident on Austria’s highest mountain, the Grossglockner, in January 2025. A 33-year-old woman died of exposure after her boyfriend left her on the mountain. He was later convicted of grossly negligent manslaughter.
During that trial, the boyfriend maintained that he had left her behind while trying to find help. He told the court he had loved his girlfriend and was deeply sorry. The case prompted widespread discussion among mountaineers, with prosecutors arguing that as the more experienced climber he had been the responsible guide and should have turned back or called for help sooner.
The Zugspitze, which lies near Garmisch-Partenkirchen, is a popular destination for sports enthusiasts, explorers and families. The current investigation is focused on the decision to separate and the circumstances that left the teenager exposed to the cold at high altitude.
