Mountaineer Nirmal Purja Among Climbers Killed in Avalanche on Broad Peak

Famed mountaineer Nirmal Purja, known from a 2021 Netflix documentary, was one of ten climbers confirmed dead after an avalanche on Broad Peak in Pakistan. This mountain is the world’s 12th-highest at 26,414 feet and is part of the Karakoram range. The climbers lost their lives on Thursday.

"The world has lost one of mountaineering’s greatest climbers," stated Elite Exped, the company involved in the expedition. "We mourn not only Nims, but every life lost in this tragedy."

Purja was leading a group on Broad Peak. A Pakistani rescue team found three bodies, including American Sarah Mallory Geis, but had to pause due to weather conditions. They resumed the search on Saturday, aiming to recover the other seven bodies.

Irfan Arshad Khan, president of the Alpine Club of Pakistan, remarked on the loss, saying, "The loss of these courageous climbers, who came from various nations united by their passion for the mountains, is an immeasurable loss to the global mountaineering fraternity." He praised the military, Sherpas, and civilians involved in the rescue mission, highlighting the risks climbers face in the Himalaya and Karakoram ranges.

The group included climbers from Pakistan, Nepal, and China. Purja, who was British-Nepali, gained recognition for his 2021 Netflix documentary "14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible." He attempted to climb the world’s 14 tallest mountains in seven months and had been part of the first all-Nepalese team to summit Mount K2 in winter.

British Defense Minister Wes Streeting described Purja as an "inspirational man who served in our Armed Forces for many years and whose incredible mountaineering adventures are known worldwide." Purja, aged 43, had served in the British army with the Gurkhas and later in the British special forces.