Mountaineer Nirmal Purja killed in Pakistan avalanche, his company says

What the report says

Renowned Nepali-born climber Nirmal Purja is among 10 mountaineers killed in an avalanche on Broad Peak in Pakistan, according to his company, Elite Expeditions, and Pakistani officials cited by BBC World News. The incident took place on Thursday on the 8,047-meter mountain in the Karakoram range, one of the most demanding peaks in the region. Rescue teams had been searching for the group after the avalanche hit the expedition.

Elite Expeditions said it was confirming the deaths with deep sadness, while Pakistani authorities had earlier reported that the bodies of three climbers had been recovered. Nepal’s prime minister also publicly confirmed Purja’s death and said six Nepalese climbers and four foreign climbers were among those killed. The BBC reported that Purja was leading the multinational team.

Purja was widely known for mountaineering achievements that brought him international attention, including completing the ascent of the world’s 14 highest mountains in just over six months in 2019. He also gained broader recognition after a 2021 Netflix documentary about his journey. The BBC said he was 43 and had previously served in the British Army and the Royal Navy’s Special Boat Service. Broad Peak has a long history of hazardous climbs and has seen multiple fatal incidents over the years, underscoring the risks faced by high-altitude expeditions.