A world-wide well-known face Nirmal Purja who was leading a multinational of the Broad Peak climbing team consisting of 10 members along with nine other members of the Broad Peak Expedition team died in an avalanche on Pakistan’s Broad Peak.
With “profound sadness and immense heartbreak” world-known alpinist Nirmal Purja had died in Thursday’s avalanche, Elite Expeditions confirmed. The company also confirmed that Nirmal Purja and other nine climbers were also killed in an avalanche on Broad Peak.
Alpine Club of Pakistan has said, among the 10 climbers six including Nirmal Purja were from Nepal and the other members of the expedition team were from China, Pakistan Oman and the United States.
The other climbers who lost their lives in the avalanche were Pur Bahadur Gurung (Yukta), Nima Sherpa, Pemba Sherpa (Kilu), Gyalu Sherpa, Nwang Thimdu Sherpa from Nepal.
Foreign climbers who lost their lives were Mallory Geris from America, Nadhira Ahmed Abdullah Al Harthy from Oman, Wang Zhong from China and Sohel Sakhi of Pakistan.
With the demise of Nirmal Purja who is also well-known as “Nimsdai” the mountaineering world believes that Nepal and the world have lost one of the true alpine legends.
Purja became a world celebrity after he ascended the world’s all 14 highest peaks of above 8,000 meters in 189 days (6 months and 6 days) in 2019. Nirmal Purja became known internationally following a 2021 Netflix documentary.
Born in Dana, Myagdi district–northern parts of Nepal 43 years ago Nirmal had served in the British army since 2003 for 16 years.
The British Monarch (late Queen Elizabeth II) has awarded Purja with the prestigious MBE known as the “Snow-Loepard” in the British army in 2018 for his achievement in extreme high-altitude mountaineering. Purja was the first Nepali to receive this award.
His extraordinary achievements inspired millions and brought immense pride to Nepal.
Prime Minister of Nepal Balendra Shah, in his condolence message 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”.
“The history of their courage, dedication, and contributions will always remain inspiring,” the prime minister added.
UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said in a post on X: “Incredibly sad to learn of the passing of Nirmal (Nims) Purja and those he was climbing with.
“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 became widely known following a Netflix documentary chronicling his journey, 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible, released two years later.
Purja is survived by his wife and three-year-old daughter.
The family lives in Hampshire in southern England.
But right before he set off for Pakistan, he realised that if he also managed to climb Broad Peak while he was there, he would have only one more mountain to conquer before becoming the “first person in history to climb all 14 eight-thousanders twice. Without oxygen.”
Broad Peak was ascended successfully for the first time in 1957 by an Austrian expedition team and is regarded as one of the most challenging mountains.
