Mountaineer Nirmal Purja Killed in Pakistan Avalanche

Renowned British‑Neapolitan climber Nirmal Purja, known worldwide for summiting all 14 eight‑thousand‑meter peaks in less than six months, died in an avalanche on Pakistan’s Broad Peak mountain. A total of ten climbers lost their lives during the chaotic event, according to Elite Expeditions, the company that organised the expedition.

The news was confirmed by Nepal’s Prime Minister Balendra Shah, who lamented the loss of “six Nepalese and four foreign climbers, including world‑record holder Nirmal Purja”. He praised their courage and dedication, stating that their legacy would remain inspirational.

Purja’s older brother, Kamal Purja, issued a heartfelt statement: "We will miss you every single day". He added that although their hearts were broken, he was proud of his brother’s achievements and that his legacy would live on forever.

British Defence Secretary Wes Streeting shared a post on X, describing Purja as an inspirational figure who served in the armed forces and whose mountaineering adventures were known worldwide. He also highlighted Purja’s resilience and his record of climbing all 14 eight‑thousanders in 189 days.

The Alpine Club of Pakistan announced that they would release further details only after the bodies were recovered. They also expressed fear for the lives of the remaining climbers, noting that rescuers had seen some bodies but had not yet reached all of them.

Purja’s last post on X revealed that he had not intended to climb Broad Peak. Initially, the plan was to summit just Gasherbrum II, but he decided mid‑journey to also scale Broad Peak, intending to achieve the historic goal of ascending all fourteen eight‑thousanders without supplemental oxygen.

Broad Peak, standing at 8,047 meters, remains one of the most challenging peaks in the Karakoram. The first successful ascent was reached in 1957, but the mountain continues to claim lives, with on average a high fatality count among climbers over the years.

Purja’s accomplishments also include being the first Gurkha to summit Mount Everest while serving in the British military. He served the British Armed Forces for sixteen years, ten of which were in the special forces, and was awarded an MBE in 2018 by the late Queen for his extreme high‑altitude mountaineering record.