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Renowned mountaineer Nirmal Purja died in an avalanche on Broad Peak in Pakistan, his climbing company confirmed on Saturday. The avalanche struck on Thursday, July 30, cutting off contact with the international expedition led by the 43-year-old British-Nepali climber.

"It is with profound sadness and immense heartbreak that we confirm that Nirmal Purja tragically lost his life following the avalanche on Broad Peak," Purja's company Elite Expeditions said on social media. "We have also received confirmation that other members of the expedition sadly did not survive," the statement added.

Coverage Comparison

The death was reported by BBC, Dawn, Deutsche Welle, France 24, and The Hindu, all citing Elite Expeditions' confirmation. The reports consistently note that Purja, a former Royal Marine and record-holding mountaineer, was leading a 10-person expedition when the avalanche occurred at an altitude of around 6,600 meters.

Accounts differ on the number of bodies recovered. BBC, Dawn, France 24, and The Hindu report that the remains of three climbers were recovered, while Deutsche Welle reports that four bodies were located. The recovered remains—flown by helicopter to a hospital for formal identification—included an American woman, an Omani woman, and a Nepali man, according to the regional government's statement released on Friday night. Deutsche Welle identified the American as Mallory Geis and the Omani as Nathira Ahmed, while France 24 named the Nepali as Pur Bahadur Gurung.

Key Claims

  • Nirmal Purja, a British-Nepali climber and former Royal Marine, died in an avalanche on Broad Peak on July 30, as confirmed by his company Elite Expeditions.
  • The avalanche struck while the team was ascending at around 6,600 meters, leaving the 10-member expedition out of contact.
  • Rescuers recovered the remains of three climbers, according to most reports, while one outlet reported four bodies located.
  • Purja broke multiple climbing records, including climbing all 14 'eight-thousanders' in six months and six days, and was the subject of the 2021 Netflix documentary "14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible."
Nepal's Prime Minister Balendra Shah offered condolences, saying the deaths "has shocked us" and that "the history of their courage, dedication, and contributions will always remain inspiring." Rescue operations continued on Saturday, with high-altitude porters and Pakistani army helicopters coordinating under challenging conditions, as described by the Gilgit-Baltistan government.