Nepalese mountaineer Nirmal 'Nimsdai' Purja dies in Broad Peak avalanche during Karakoram expedition

His expedition company confirmed the tragedy after Purja and several members of his team had been missing following the avalanche.

Elite Exped announced the news in an Instagram statement, describing Purja as one of the greatest climbers of his generation whose achievements inspired millions around the world.

The 43-year-old mountaineer was leading an international expedition to Broad Peak, the world's 12th-highest mountain, when the avalanche struck the mountain's standard West Ridge route.

Expedition company confirms deaths

Confirming the incident, Elite Exped said: "Today, it is with profound sadness and immense heartbreak that we confirm that Nirmal 'Nimsdai' Purja tragically lost his life following the avalanche on Broad Peak. We have also received confirmation that other members of the expedition sadly did not survive."

The company also paid tribute to Purja's trusted climbing partners.

"Today, we mourn not only Nims, but every life lost in this tragedy, including his trusted climbing partners and guides, Pur Bahadur Gurung (Yukta) and Nima Sherpa. Our deepest thoughts, prayers and heartfelt condolences are with their families, friends and loved ones. No words can ease the pain of this unimaginable loss, and we ask that everyone respect their privacy as they grieve."

The avalanche struck at an altitude of approximately 21,600 to 21,850 feet along Broad Peak's standard climbing route.

The expedition comprised climbers from Nepal, Pakistan, Oman, the United States and China.

Rescue efforts had been initiated after communication with the team was lost following the avalanche.

Tributes pour in for climbing legend

Paying tribute to Purja, Elite Exped described him as a climber whose influence extended far beyond mountaineering.

"The world has lost one of mountaineering's greatest climbers; a leader who inspired millions through his courage, humility and unwavering belief that human potential is far greater than we often imagine," the company said.

"More than his extraordinary achievements, he wanted to show the world what was possible when you dared to dream bigger, believed in yourself and refused to accept limitations," it added. "Through his actions, he inspired millions of people to believe that they too could achieve more than they ever thought possible."

The company also highlighted the institutions Purja helped establish.

"His vision, leadership and determination built Elite Exped, Nimsdai Foundation, Skydive Nimsdai and Nimsdai Store into what they are today. His legacy will live on in the countless lives he changed and the people he inspired to climb their own mountains."

Nepal Prime Minister Balen Shah also paid tribute, saying mountaineering represented "courage, discipline, sacrifice and the determination to push human limits."

"Mountains give many climbers the glory of reaching their summits, but sometimes they also embrace them forever. Yet mountaineers, through their courage and dedication, remain immortal in history," he wrote on Facebook.

A record-breaking mountaineering career

Purja earned worldwide recognition in 2019 after completing one of the most remarkable feats in climbing history by summiting all 14 mountains above 8,000 metres in just six months and six days under his "Project Possible" expedition.

The achievement shattered the previous record of more than seven years and transformed him into one of the most recognisable figures in modern mountaineering.

In 2021, he was part of the all-Nepali team that completed the first successful winter ascent of K2, another milestone in Himalayan climbing history.

His extraordinary achievements later reached a global audience through the Netflix documentary 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible, which documented his record-breaking expedition and introduced millions to high-altitude mountaineering.

Nirmal Purja was a full-time mountaineer and expedition leader. Photo: Instagram/@nimsdai

From elite soldier to global adventurer

Before becoming a full-time mountaineer and expedition leader, Purja served for 16 years in the British military.

He first joined the Brigade of Gurkhas before earning a place in the Royal Navy's elite Special Boat Service (SBS), one of the United Kingdom's most specialised military units.

In 2018, he was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in recognition of his military service.

According to the Nimsdai Foundation, Purja's passion for mountaineering began after trekking to Everest Base Camp in 2012, an experience that inspired him to pursue climbing professionally.

Broad Peak: One of the world's toughest mountains

Broad Peak rises to 8,051 metres in the Karakoram range near K2 and is regarded as one of the world's most demanding high-altitude climbs. 

The mountain lies along the Pakistan-China frontier in the Gilgit-Baltistan region.

First successfully climbed in 1957 by an Austrian expedition, Broad Peak continues to attract experienced mountaineers because of its technical difficulty, extreme weather and avalanche-prone terrain.

The latest tragedy has once again highlighted the unpredictable dangers faced by climbers attempting some of the world's highest peaks.