A renowned mountaineer and ex-Royal Marines soldier passed away in Pakistan due to an avalanche incident. Nirmal Purja, a co-founder of a mountaineering company, was leading a group of climbers on Broad Peak, the 12th highest mountain globally, when the avalanche struck on Thursday. Following search operations, Elite Exped, his company, confirmed Purja’s unfortunate demise.
In a social media post, the company expressed deep sorrow over the loss of Nirmal Purja and other expedition members. Pakistani authorities recovered the bodies of three climbers, including Purja, along with American and Omani climbers. Nepal’s Prime Minister also confirmed the tragic deaths of six Nepalese and four foreign climbers in the Karakoram range.
British adventurer Bear Grylls paid tribute to Purja for his remarkable achievements. Purja gained recognition in 2019 for his record-breaking feat of climbing all 14 mountains above 8,000 meters in just 189 days. He was also honored with an MBE for his exceptional mountaineering accomplishments. Purja, known for his courage and dedication, made significant contributions to the mountaineering community.