- Nirmal Purja died in an avalanche on Broad Peak.
- Rescuers have identified the victims’ bodies.
- Leaders paid tribute to the renowned mountaineer
Renowned Nepali mountaineer Nirmal “Nimsdai” Purja has died in an avalanche while climbing Broad Peak in Pakistan, bringing a tragic end to an expedition involving 10 climbers.
Eko Hot Blog gathered that the announcement was made on Saturday by Elite Exped, the company that organised the expedition. It also confirmed that several other members of the climbing team lost their lives in the disaster.
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“It is with profound sadness that we confirm Nirmal ‘Nimsdai’ Purja tragically lost his life following the avalanche on Broad Peak,” the company said in a statement posted on Instagram.
Nepal’s Prime Minister, Balendra Shah, paid tribute to Purja and the other victims, describing their courage and achievements as an enduring inspiration.
“Although their physical journey has ended, the legacy of their bravery, dedication and contributions will continue to inspire generations,” he said.
Purja, 43, and nine other climbers were reported missing after an avalanche struck Broad Peak, an 8,051-metre mountain in Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan region, on Thursday.
Authorities later confirmed that the bodies of Purja and the other climbers had been located in a difficult-to-access area, but recovery efforts remain challenging.
Before becoming one of the world’s most celebrated mountaineers, Purja served with the British Army’s Gurkhas and later joined the Special Forces.
He gained global recognition in 2019 after climbing all 14 of the world’s mountains above 8,000 metres in just over six months, setting a record for the fastest completion of the feat.
His remarkable achievement later became the subject of the Netflix documentary 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible, which introduced his story to a global audience.
UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting described Purja as an inspirational figure whose military service and mountaineering accomplishments earned worldwide admiration.
The avalanche involved climbers from Nepal, Pakistan, Oman, the United States and China. Rescue teams recovered three bodies on Friday, while drone surveillance later helped identify the remaining victims.
Chhang Dawa Sherpa, a director of Seven Summit Treks, said the remaining bodies have been identified but cannot yet be retrieved because of the dangerous terrain.
He explained that unlike Nepal, Pakistan does not routinely carry out long-line helicopter rescue operations in high-altitude mountain regions, making recovery efforts more difficult.
Sajid Hussain, deputy director of Gilgit-Baltistan’s tourism department, said rescue teams are continuing operations but face significant challenges due to the location of the victims.
Purja leaves behind a lasting legacy as one of the most accomplished high-altitude climbers in history and a pioneer who transformed modern mountaineering through his speed, endurance and leadership.
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