British Climber Nirmal Purja Dies in Pakistan Avalanche

Nirmal ‘Nimsdai’ Purja, a 43-year-old British citizen and renowned climber, tragically died following an avalanche on Broad Peak, Pakistan, while leading a 10-member team. The avalanche struck around midday on Thursday, and none of the climbers survived, as confirmed by the Alpine Club of Pakistan on Saturday.

Elite Exped, the company co-founded by Purja, expressed profound sadness in an Instagram post, mourning not only Purja but also his climbing partners, Pur Bahadur Gurung (Yukta) and Nima Sherpa. Rescuers initially found four bodies, including Nadhira Al Harthy from Oman and Gurung from Nepal.

Purja was notable for scaling the world’s 14 highest peaks in just six months in 2019, a record later surpassed by Norwegian climber Kristin Harila. His achievements were featured in the Netflix documentary "14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible," showcasing his remarkable climbing feats.