ISLAMABAD / KATHMANDU — Renowned Nepal-born British mountaineer Nirmal “Nimsdai” Purja, along with nine other climbers, has been tragically killed after a massive avalanche swept through their expedition on Broad Peak in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The 43-year-old elite climber, who rose to global fame through his record-breaking feats and the acclaimed Netflix documentary 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible, was leading an international team when tragedy struck.
The Fatal Expedition
The disaster occurred on Thursday, July 30, as Purja’s team was navigating between Camp 2 and higher elevations on the 8,047-metre high Broad Peak—the world’s 12th highest mountain located in the Karakoram range. Satellite tracking data showed Purja at approximately 6,660 metres before his device indicated a sudden drop in altitude, pointing to the force of the avalanche that swept the climbers down the slope.
Communication with the 10-member team was instantly severed. Following a multi-day search and rescue operation involving military helicopters and experienced high-altitude teams, his expedition agency Elite Exped officially confirmed on Saturday that there were no survivors.
Last Feat and Final Words
Purja had just completed scaling Gasherbrum II (8,035 m) without supplemental oxygen on July 21—his 57th ascent of an 8,000m peak. He made a last-minute decision to attempt Broad Peak as part of his mission to become the first human in history to climb all 14 world peaks above 8,000 metres twice without supplementary oxygen.
In a poignant Instagram post shared just days before the climb, Purja had written:
”Broad Peak, I ask for nothing but safe passage up and back down. I take zero mountains for granted. Not one… My purpose has never been about me. It’s about showing YOU that your own mountains—whatever they are—are climbable.”
Tributes Pour In
Nepal Prime Minister Balen Shah paid rich tributes to the legendary climber, stating: “The Himalayas grant the glory of the peak to many, and sometimes hold them forever in their embrace. Nirmal Purja represented courage, discipline, and the indomitable confidence to challenge human limits.”
A History-Making Legacy
16 Years of Military Duty: A former soldier with the British Army’s Brigade of Gurkhas and the elite Special Boat Service (SBS).
Project Possible (2019): Scaled all 14 of the world’s 8,000m peaks in just 6 months and 6 days, shattering the previous record of over 7 years.
Winter Ascent of K2: Part of the historic 10-member all-Nepali team that achieved the first-ever winter summit of K2 in January 2021.
Royal Honor: Appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) by Queen Elizabeth II in 2018.
