Kathmandu: Renowned mountaineer Nirmal Purja, popularly known as ‘Nimsdai’, has died in an avalanche while attempting to summit Broad Peak (8,051 metres) in Pakistan’s Karakoram Range. The Nepal-born British citizen was chasing a historic record to become the first person to climb all 14 of the world’s 8,000-metre peaks twice without supplemental oxygen.
His company, Elite Exped, confirmed his death on Saturday, saying the avalanche struck the expedition on July 30.
Avalanche Claims Lives of Expedition Members
In a statement, Elite Exped expressed profound grief over Purja’s death and confirmed that other members of the expedition, including Pur Bahadur Gurung (Yukta) and Nima Sherpa, also lost their lives in the avalanche.
Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah also paid tribute, confirming that six Nepali climbers, including Purja, died during the expedition on Broad Peak. He described the tragedy as a devastating loss for Nepal and the global mountaineering community, saying the climbers’ courage and dedication would continue to inspire future generations.
Attempt to Create Mountaineering History Ends in Tragedy
Broad Peak was not originally part of Purja’s climbing plans. In a social media post before the expedition, he had said he initially intended to climb Gasherbrum II (G2) but later realised that summiting Broad Peak would leave him with only Cho Oyu to become the first climber in history to summit all 14 eight-thousanders twice without oxygen.
The avalanche cut short that historic attempt.
A Record-Breaking Career That Inspired Millions
Born in Nepal’s Dhaulagiri region and raised in Chitwan, Purja served for 16 years in the military, including six years with the British Gurkhas and 10 years in the United Kingdom’s Special Boat Service (SBS), becoming the first Gurkha to join the elite special forces unit.
He began mountaineering in 2012 and rapidly emerged as one of the world’s greatest climbers. In 2018, he set a world record by climbing Mount Everest, Lhotse and Makalu in just five days.
A year later, he stunned the mountaineering world by completing all 14 of the world’s 8,000-metre peaks in just over six months under his ‘Project Possible’, breaking the previous record of nearly eight years.
Known for his remarkable high-altitude endurance and rescue missions in the Himalayas, Purja earned global recognition not only for his climbing achievements but also for saving the lives of fellow climbers.
Elite Exped described him as one of mountaineering’s greatest figures whose courage, humility and belief in pushing human limits inspired millions around the world.