In brief
Nirmal Purja, world‑record holder and former Special Boat Service soldier, was among 10 climbers who perished when an avalanche struck Broad Peak on Thursday. The elite expedition announced the tragedy with profound grief, confirming that all nine other members were also killed. Pakistani authorities had been searching the 8,047‑metre peak after a fatal collapse, but only three bodies were recovered. Nepal’s prime minister expressed shock at the loss of six Nepalese and four foreign climbers, calling Purja’s legacy inspirational. The incident underscores the enduring danger of climbing the world’s 14 highest mountains, many of which see repeated fatalities over decades.
Mountaineer Nirmal Purja killed in Pakistan avalanche, company says
Renowned mountaineer and former British Army soldier Nirmal Purja died in an avalanche on Broad Peak in Pakistan, as the expedition’s company announced.
Elite Expeditions posted the news on social media, stressing profound sadness and immense heartbreak at the confirmation of Purja’s death. The company also declared that all nine other members of the climbing team perished in the same disaster.
Purja, a Nepali‑born climber, achieved worldwide fame when he summited the world’s 14 highest peaks in just over six months in 2019. His record run captured international attention and was later featured in the Netflix documentary mentioned above.
Pakistani officials had already recovered bodies of three climbers—American Mallory Geis, Oman’s Nadhira Ahmed Abdullah Al Harthy, and Nepalese Pur Bahadur Gurung—from the 10‑person expedition.
The death was also confirmed by Nepal’s prime minister Balendra Shah, who said the “tragic death of six Nepalese and four other foreign climbers, including world record holder Nirmal Purja, in the Karakoram mountain range of Pakistan, has shocked us.” He praised the legacy of the climbers as “inspiring.”
Rescue teams had been tirelessly searching Broad Peak, the world’s 12th‑highest summit, when the avalanche struck on Thursday, devastating the mission.
Broad Peak, standing at 8,047 metres (26,400 feet), has been described as one of the most challenging mountains in the world. First summited in 1957 by an Austrian team, the peak has attracted many climbers over the years, yet dozens have lost their lives on its slopes. The year 2013 saw a particularly deadly wave, with at least six fatalities.
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