Famed mountaineer Nirmal 'Nims' Purja killed in avalanche on Broad Peak
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New Delhi: World-renowned mountaineer Nirmal "Nimsdai" Purja has died following a devastating avalanche on Broad Peak, the world's 12th highest mountain, his expedition company Elite Exped confirmed on Sunday.
Purja and five fellow climbers had been missing since Friday after an avalanche struck their group along Broad Peak's standard West Ridge route at an altitude between 21,600 and 21,850 feet. The 8,051-meter peak sits in the Karakoram range, located near K2 along the border of Pakistan-administered Gilgit-Baltistan and Xinjiang, China. In an official statement, Elite Exped confirmed the deaths of Purja and several expedition members, including his trusted climbing partners and guides Pur Bahadur Gurung and Nima Sherpa, expressing deep condolences to their families while requesting privacy for the grieving relatives.
A former member of Britain's elite Brigade of Gurkhas and the Royal Marines' Special Boat Service, Purja redefined modern high-altitude mountaineering. He achieved global fame in 2019 through his historic "Project Possible" expedition, scaling all 14 of the world's 8,000-meter peaks in just six months and six days. He further cemented his legacy in 2021 as part of the 10-climber Nepali team that completed the first successful winter ascent of K2. His record-breaking exploits were featured in the widely acclaimed Netflix documentary 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible, turning him into one of the most recognizable figures in international extreme sports.
Tributes from across the global outdoor community praised Purja's courage, humility, and determination to push the boundaries of human potential. Through his leadership of Elite Exped and the Nimsdai Foundation, Purja inspired millions to pursue extraordinary goals. Shortly before the tragic incident, the mountaineer had sent a final voice message to Indian news outlets detailing the expedition's progress, leaving behind an indelible legacy that reshaped the world of alpine climbing.