Home / Disasters and Accidents / Mountaineering legend Nimsdai lost in Broad Peak avalanche
Mountaineering legend Nimsdai lost in Broad Peak avalanche
1 Aug
Summary
- Renowned Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja died in a Broad Peak avalanche.
- Purja co-founded Elite Exped, confirming deaths of other team members.
- He made history in 2019 by climbing all 14 eight-thousand-meter peaks.
Renowned Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja tragically lost his life following an avalanche on Pakistan's Broad Peak. The incident occurred on Thursday, trapping 11 climbers. Purja, a former UK Special Forces member, was leading the expedition when the avalanche struck around noon. Elite Exped, a company he co-founded, confirmed his death and that of other expedition members, including climbing partners Pur Bahadur Gurung and Nima Sherpa.
Purja was celebrated globally for his mountaineering achievements, notably becoming the first person to summit all 14 peaks over 8,000 meters in just over six months in 2019. He also led the first team to conquer K2 in winter. His bravery extended beyond summits, as he twice risked his life to rescue fellow climbers in perilous situations, prioritizing principles over personal risk.
Rescuers worked to retrieve bodies amidst harsh weather conditions. Among the confirmed victims were Nadhira Alharthy, the first Omani to climb Everest, and US climber Mallory Geis. GPS data indicated the avalanche occurred between camps two and three at an altitude of 6,579 meters. Purja's military service included 16 years in the British military, with 10 in special forces, and he was awarded an MBE for his achievements.
