Renowned Mountaineer Nirmal Purja Dies in Pakistan Avalanche

Sun Sep 06 2026 16:28:51 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Premier climber Nirmal Purja killed in Broad Peak avalanche, prompting worldwide mourning and a pause in high‑altitude climbing.

Nirmal Purja, a celebrated British‑Nepali mountaineer known for climbing all 14 of the world’s 8,000‑meter peaks in under a year, was fatally injured in an avalanche on Pakistan’s Broad Peak. His company Elite Expeditions confirmed the tragedy, expressing profound sadness. Pakistan officials reported the bodies of three expedition members recovered, including Purja. The incident has shocked the mountaineering community and highlighted the enduring risks of high‑altitude climbing.

Renowned mountaineer Nirmal Purja has been confirmed dead following an avalanche on Pakistan’s Broad Peak, Elite Expeditions announced Thursday with “deep sadness and immense heartbreak.”

Purja, 43, was famed for summiting all 14 eight‑thousand‑meter peaks in 2019, a record that drew praise from the British military and the global climbing community. He was also internationally known through the 2021 Netflix documentary “14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible.”

Pakistani officials earlier reported that the bodies of three teammates—American Mallory Geis, Omani Nadhira Ahmed Abdullah Al Harthy and Nepali Pur Bahadur Gurung—had been recovered from the ridge between Broad Peak and the neighbouring Gasherbrum summit.

Purja’s brother, Kamal, expressed heartfelt grief: “We will miss you every single day,” adding that the legacy of Nirmal’s courage would live on. Prime Minister Balendra Shah in Nepal said the loss shocked the nation and highlighted the bravery of the climbers.

UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting hailed Purja as “an inspirational man” who served in the armed forces for 16 years, dedicating 10 of those to special forces. The accident underscores the perennial dangers of high‑altitude expeditions, with Broad Peak historically ranked among the most lethal of the 14 peaks.