Renowned Nepalese-British mountaineer Nirmal Purja, founder of the adventure company “Elite Exped”, has tragically passed away at the age of 43 after being caught in an avalanche while climbing in Pakistan. Purja, who set the record for the fastest ascent of the world’s 14 highest peaks, including Mount Everest, confirmed the news on Saturday (August 1st).
In a statement posted on Instagram, Elite Exped expressed deep sorrow over the loss of Nirmal Purja, affectionately known as Nimsdai, during an avalanche at Broad Peak in Pakistan. The expedition team, which included Purja and nine others, unfortunately did not survive the incident.
The tragedy unfolded in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of northern Pakistan. Around midday on Thursday, the team of 10 climbers, including Purja, was caught in an avalanche and landslide while attempting to conquer Broad Peak, the 12th highest mountain in the world standing at an elevation of 8,051 meters.
Broad Peak is known for its extremely challenging climbing conditions. Among the 10 climbers involved, six were Nepalese, with the remaining members coming from Pakistan, Oman, the United States, and China.
Prior to his mountaineering endeavors, Nirmal Purja served in the United Kingdom’s elite Gurkha regiment. In 2019, he made headlines by successfully summiting all 14 peaks over 8,000 meters in just over six months, setting a new world record.
Two years later, his remarkable feat was documented in the Netflix film “14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible”, which garnered global acclaim for his extraordinary achievement.
As a world-class mountaineer, Purja was dedicated to advocating for recognition and respect for the Sherpa community in Nepal. In an interview with CNN, he expressed his desire to elevate the prominence of these skilled climbers, acknowledging their expertise and contributions to mountaineering.