Nirmal Purja dies in avalanche during Pakistan expedition
KATHMANDU — Celebrated Nepali climber Nirmal Purja, who set a record for the fastest ascent of the world’s 14 highest mountains, died in an avalanche during an expedition in Pakistan, reports BritPanorama.
His expedition company, Elite Exped, announced the news via Instagram on Saturday. “Today it is with profound sadness and immense heartbreak that we confirm that Nirmal ‘Nimsdai’ Purja tragically lost his life following the avalanche on Broad Peak,” the statement read. Alongside Purja, other members of the expedition also did not survive.
Purja, 43, and nine others had been missing since Thursday after being struck by an avalanche on the 26,414-foot Broad Peak, located in Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan region. The site is known for its technical difficulty, making the recovery operation challenging.
Nepal’s Prime Minister Balendra Shah expressed his shock at the news, stating, “Only physical journey of the climbers has stopped. But the history of their courage, dedication and contributions will always remain alive and inspiring.”
Officials confirmed that the bodies of Purja and the other climbers had been located, though retrieval has yet to occur. Purja, who served in the British military with the Gurkhas and later in special forces, completed his remarkable ascent in just six months in 2019, gaining international recognition after the Netflix documentary “14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible” chronicled his journey.
U.K. Defence Minister Wes Streeting expressed his deep sorrow over the incident. “He was an inspirational man who served in our Armed Forces for many years – and whose incredible mountaineering adventures are known the world over,” he stated on X. Of the ten mountaineers caught in the avalanche, six were Nepalis, while others hailed from Pakistan, Oman, the U.S. and China.
As of Friday, search crews had recovered three bodies. Chhang Dawa Sherpa of Seven Summit Treks reported that drone footage had assisted in identifying the remaining bodies, which are yet to be retrieved from their difficult location. “They are in a difficult spot and have not been retrieved yet,” he noted.
The local tourism department’s deputy director, Sajid Hussain, reported that rescue teams are continuing their efforts despite the challenges of the site’s accessibility. “Rescue teams have successfully identified the location of the victims; however, they have not yet been able to recover and bring them down safely,” he told Reuters. Aerial reconnaissance had improved situational awareness, but reaching and safely recovering the deceased mountaineers remains a struggle.
Purja’s legacy includes climbing Annapurna, the 10th-highest mountain in the world in 2019, as he began his pursuit of the world’s highest peaks. Eight of the 14 tallest mountains are in Nepal, while the other five are in Pakistan, plus one in the Tibet region of China.
Elite climbers described Purja as a “charismatic colourful” character. British climber Kenton Cool remarked on his pioneering influence in high-altitude guiding, emphasizing the lasting impact of his remarkable journey on the climbing community.
