Austrian Mountain Guide Faces Jail After Attack On Polish Climber On Ridge With Sheer Drops On Either Side

This is the moment an Austrian mountain guide grabs and shoves a Polish climber during a furious row on an exposed ridge with sheer drops on either side.

The confrontation happened on the Mürztalersteig on the Grossglockner, Austria's highest mountain, near Kals in the East Tyrol region of western Austria, on 22 August.

Helmet-camera footage recorded by Polish climber Patryk, 42, shows him and his wife negotiating a narrow section of the route at around 3,000 metres when the guide arrives with two clients.

Patryk said he had deliberately waited to give his wife more space when the guide stepped between the couple.

The Polish climber can initially be heard greeting him before saying that he intended to go first.

But the Austrian guide replies: "No, no," clips himself onto the safety cable and moves past Patryk's wife on the narrow ridge.

When Patryk challenges him, the guide tells him: "I'm a mountain guide, shut your mouth."

Patryk replies that he does not care whether he is a mountain guide.

The guide then warns him: "Shut your mouth, otherwise I'll come up and give you one."

Footage shows the guide's two clients having to make their way around the pair as the argument continues on the exposed mountain route.

Patryk then complains that the manoeuvre has caused a hold-up because he had wanted to go first.

The guide is seen climbing back towards him, squeezing past Patryk's wife and pressing her towards the rock face as he makes his way along the narrow section.

He then grabs Patryk by the arms and pushes him backwards while repeatedly telling him to behave.

The footage shows steep drops immediately beside the climbers, with the ground below obscured by cloud.

Patryk later posted the footage on Instagram and said: "Unfortunately, the situation escalated further, to the point where the guide behaved in an aggressive and confrontational manner on an exposed ridge.

"In my opinion, this unnecessarily endangered not only my wife and me, but also his own two clients.

"Overtaking other hikers or climbers in the mountains is completely normal and understandable. However, I would expect a professional mountain guide to show basic courtesy, good judgement and, above all, responsibility for the safety of everyone around him.

"Mountain guides should set an example for other people in the mountains. Arrogant, aggressive and thoughtless behaviour is the exact opposite of what one would expect from someone in such a responsible profession.

"The mountains are for everyone, regardless of their experience, skills or pace. Mutual respect and consideration should always come first."

Patryk later stressed that the guide seen in the footage was not Peter Tembler after another person was wrongly identified online.

The Kals Mountain and Ski Guide Association said the guide was not one of its members but had been hired privately after the tour was arranged through its office.

Association head Michael Amraser reportedly described the behaviour as "catastrophic and absolutely unacceptable" and said no further work would be passed to the guide.

The association also said it had contacted Patryk to apologise.

Austria's Association of Mountain and Ski Guides said overtaking slower climbing parties was normal practice but added: "We clearly distance ourselves from such behaviour by the mountain guide as shown in the video and from the manner in which the mountain guide communicates here."

The national association said it was difficult to assess the entire incident from video clips alone and that possible disciplinary measures would now be examined.

Police in Matrei in Osttirol confirmed they had opened an investigation over suspected endangerment of physical safety.

Deputy police station commander Anton Raffler said: "Investigations are being conducted on suspicion of endangering physical safety."

Patryk told German media that he had not personally reported the guide to police.

Prosecutors are nevertheless investigating, and the guide could reportedly face up to three months in prison if convicted of the offence.

(Newsflash)