In brief
Legendary mountaineer Nirmal Purja was killed during an avalanche on Pakistan’s Broad Peak, part of an expedition that lost ten participants. A statement from Elite Expeditions confirmed the tragedy, and messages of mourning poured in from his brother, Nepal’s Prime Minister, and UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting. The accident has reignited concern over safety in the Karakoram range, where Broad Peak has claimed dozens of lives over the years. Purja, known for summiting all fourteen 8,000‑meter peaks in 2019, was planning to climb Broad Peak before his fatal descent. The incident marks a somber moment for the global climbing community.
British‑Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja, famed for summiting every 8,000‑meter peak in 2019, was confirmed dead after an avalanche on Pakistan’s Broad Peak on Thursday. Elite Expeditions released a statement that read, “with profound sadness and immense heartbreak, we confirm that Nirmal has passed away.” The loss was followed by a message from Purja’s brother, Kamal, who said, “We will miss you every single day.”
The avalanche also claimed nine other climbers, bringing the total fatalities to ten. Nepal’s Prime Minister Balendra Shah announced the tragedy via a statement, noting the “shocking” loss of six Nepalese and four foreign climbers, including Purja. He praised their courage, adding that their legacy will “always remain inspiring.”
UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting posted on X that “he was an inspirational man who served in our Armed Forces for many years – and whose incredible mountaineering adventures are known the world over.” A spokesperson from the Alpine Club of Pakistan confirmed that the bodies had yet to be recovered, and expressed fear for the rest of the team.
Purja’s career highlights include a record‑shattering 2019 run that saw him reach all fourteen 8,000‑meter peaks in just 189 days, and a subsequent Netflix documentary entitled 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible. Known also as “Nims”, he served in the Royal Gurkha Rifles, earning an MBE in 2018 for extreme high‑altitude mountaineering.
Before departing for Pakistan, Purja had originally intended to climb Gasherbrum II. He then decided to tackle Broad Peak, aiming to climb every 8,000‑meter mountain twice without oxygen. The decision was driven by ambition and the opportunity presented by the Karakoram range; however, the last weeks of the descent ended in tragedy.
Broad Peak’s history is marked by peril. First successfully climbed in 1957, the mountain has claimed dozens of lives, with a particularly lethal year in 2013 when at least six climbers perished. The current incident adds to an already fraught record, underscoring the inherent risks of high‑altitude expeditions.
