Kathmandu [Nepal], August 2 – Renowned British-Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja popularly known as “Nimsdai” was among 10 climbers killed in an avalanche on Broad Peak in Pakistan’s Karakoram range according to his expedition company and officials.
Elite Expeditions confirmed Purja’s death on Saturday describing the news as one received with “profound sadness and immense heartbreak.” His brother, Kamal Purja later paid tribute saying the family was devastated but proud of his extraordinary legacy.
Purja 43, was leading a multinational expedition on the 8,047-metre Broad Peak the world’s 12th-highest mountain when an avalanche struck on Thursday. Pakistani authorities have recovered the bodies of at least three climbers while rescue teams continue efforts to retrieve the remaining victims.
Nepal’s Prime Minister Balendra Shah expressed shock over the tragedy, saying the deaths of six Nepali climbers and four foreign mountaineers including world record holder Purja had deeply saddened the nation. He said their courage, dedication and contributions to mountaineering would remain an enduring source of inspiration.
Britain’s Prince William also paid tribute calling Purja one of the world’s greatest mountaineers after a distinguished military career. UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting described him as an inspirational figure whose achievements were admired globally.
Born in Nepal, Purja served for 16 years in the British Army including a decade in the elite Special Forces before becoming one of the most accomplished high-altitude climbers in history. In 2019, he stunned the mountaineering world by climbing all 14 peaks above 8,000 metres in just 189 days shattering the previous record by more than seven years. His achievement was later documented in the Netflix film 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible.
Purja was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2018 for services to high-altitude mountaineering and was also recognised as the first Gurkha serving in the British military to summit Mount Everest.
In what became his final social media post earlier this week, Purja revealed that climbing Broad Peak had not originally been part of his plan. He had travelled to Pakistan to climb Gasherbrum II but decided to attempt broad peak as well bringing him within one mountain of becoming the first person to climb all 14 eight-thousanders twice without supplemental oxygen.
“Broad Peak, I ask for nothing but safe passage up and back down. I take zero mountains for granted,” he wrote.
Broad Peak, first climbed in 1957 is considered one of the most technically demanding peaks in the Karakoram. Despite numerous successful ascents it has claimed dozens of lives with 2013 recorded as one of its deadliest years.
