Famed Mountaineer Nirmal Purja Killed in Avalanche on Pakistan’s Broad Peak

ISLAMABAD, Aug 1 — World-renowned former British Army and Royal Marines soldier Nirmal Purja has died in Pakistan following a tragic avalanche, his expedition company Elite Exped confirmed today.

The 43-year-old Nepalese mountaineer was leading an expedition of 10 climbers on Broad Peak—the world’s 12th-highest mountain in northern Pakistan—when a massive avalanche struck at approximately midday on Thursday.

Following extensive search efforts, his co-founded climbing agency, Elite Exped, released an official statement confirming that Purja and members of his climbing team did not survive.

“Today, it is with profound sadness and immense heartbreak that we confirm that Nirmal ‘Nimsdai’ Purja, tragically lost his life following the avalanche on Broad Peak. We have also received confirmation that other members of this expedition sadly did not survive,” Elite Exped stated.

“Today, we mourn not only Nims, but every life lost in this tragedy including his trusted climbing partners and guides, Pur Bahadur Gurung (Yukta) and Nima Sherpa. Our deepest thoughts, prayers and heartfelt condolences are with their families, friends and loved ones. No words can erase the pain of this unimaginable loss, and we ask that everyone respects their privacy as they grieve,” the company added.

Renowned British adventurer Bear Grylls paid emotional tribute to the mountaineering icon, honoring his memory online.

“Heartbreaking news for so many climbers around the world who had a relationship with this remarkable and unique man. We will never forget you Nims and your unstoppable spirit,” Grylls wrote on Instagram.

Purja had previously collaborated with Grylls and former Made in Chelsea star Spencer Matthews to locate and recover the body of Matthews’ brother, Michael, who became the youngest Briton to summit Mount Everest before tragically disappearing on the mountain in 1999. The high-altitude recovery mission was featured in the 2023 documentary Finding Michael.

Expressing his grief, Matthews shared a photo with Purja on Instagram while reflecting on the tragedy.

“The mountains inspire us with their beauty but they also demand immense respect. Every person who ventures into that world understands the risks, yet they go anyway, driven by curiosity, purpose, passion and a deep love for the places few will ever experience,” Matthews wrote.

“The news from Broad Peak is heartbreaking. So many lives, families, friends and teammates now facing unimaginable loss. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragedy. May those who have been lost be remembered not only for how they died, but for how they lived, the courage they showed, and the lives they touched. Rest in peace. To those not yet found, we pray for a miracle,” Matthews added.

Purja rose to global prominence in 2019 when he shattered high-altitude climbing records by scaling all 14 of the world’s 8,000-meter peaks in just 189 days—beating the previous record by more than seven years. His historic “Project Possible” feat was chronicled in the Netflix documentary 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible.

Before embarking on his professional mountaineering career, Purja served 16 years in the British military, including a decade in the Special Boat Service (SBS) special forces. He was awarded an MBE by the late Queen Elizabeth II in 2018 for outstanding achievements in extreme mountaineering. A cold-weather warfare specialist, Purja also made history as the first Gurkha to summit Mount Everest while serving in the British military, and famously rescued a stranded climber solo from Mount Everest’s death zone in 2016.

–NMT