World Record Mountaineer Nirmal Purja Dies in Pakistan Avalanche with Nine Others

Nirmal "Nimsdai" Purja, the world-renowned mountaineer who set a record by climbing all 14 peaks over 8,000 meters in just 189 days, was killed in an avalanche on Broad Peak in Pakistan. The avalanche also claimed the lives of nine other members of the multinational climbing expedition he led. Purja's climbing company, Elite Expeditions, confirmed his death on social media, expressing deep sorrow and heartbreak over the tragedy.

Broad Peak, the 12th highest mountain globally at 8,047 meters, is known for its extreme danger and has claimed many lives since the first successful ascent in 1957. Purja had recently shared on social media that climbing Broad Peak was not originally planned but was an opportunity to become the first person to summit all 14 highest peaks twice without supplemental oxygen. In his last post, he wrote, "I ask for nothing but a safe passage up and back down. I take no mountain for granted."

Born in Nepal, Purja gained international fame in 2019 after breaking the previous record for climbing all 14 eight-thousanders, which had stood for over seven years. His journey was documented in the Netflix film "14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible." Before his climbing career, Purja served 16 years in the British Army, including a decade in elite units, and was the first Gurkha soldier to summit Everest during his service. He was awarded an MBE by Queen Elizabeth II in 2018 for his extreme mountaineering achievements.

Nepal's Prime Minister, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, mourned Purja and the five other Nepali climbers who died, calling their courage and dedication an enduring inspiration. Israeli mountaineer Daniel Wolf, who climbed Everest and other peaks with Purja, also paid tribute, calling him a legend and highlighting the humbling power of nature despite human strength and experience.

The tragedy underscores the perilous nature of high-altitude mountaineering, especially on peaks like Broad Peak, where multiple fatalities have occurred, including a deadly year in 2013 with at least six deaths.