All ten mountaineers caught in an avalanche on Pakistan’s Broad Peak have died, according to the Alpine Club of Pakistan and local reporting from NOS Nieuws. The victims include world-renowned Nepalese climber Nirmal Purja, 43, whose company confirmed the fatality after the group was swept 1,000 meters down the mountain.
Broad Peak Avalanche Claims Ten Lives Including Nirmal Purja
The fatal incident occurred during a technical and highly difficult expedition on the 8,047-meter-high Broad Peak, located in the Pakistani Karakoram range. According to the Alpine Club of Pakistan cited by NOS Nieuws, the climbers were at an altitude of 6,600 meters on Thursday when the snowmass struck and dragged them down 1,000 meters.
Purja’s company issued a statement on Instagram confirming his death. “With great sadness and a broken heart, we confirm today that Nirmal Purja has tragically passed away following the avalanche on Broad Peak,” the organization wrote, adding that words cannot soften the pain of the loss.
Global Mountaineering Community Mourns Record-Breaking Climber
Purja gained widespread public recognition through the Netflix documentary 14 Peaks: Nothing is impossible, which chronicled his record-setting ascent of the world’s fourteen highest peaks in six months and six days. He began high-altitude climbing in 2012 after visiting the Mount Everest base camp.
“The world loses one of the greatest mountaineers, a leader who inspired millions through his courage, humility, and his rock-solid confidence that humans can achieve much more than we often think,” his company stated. Before his climbing career, Purja served sixteen years in the military, starting with the Gurkha regiment of the British army in 2003 at age 18, followed by ten years with the Special Boat Service.
Multinational Expedition on the World’s Twelfth Highest Mountain
The expedition on Broad Peak, recognized as the twelfth highest mountain in the world, brought together a diverse international team. Alongside Purja and five other Nepalese climbers, the group included participants from Pakistan, Oman, the United States, and China, according to NOS Nieuws reporting.
Did you know? Nirmal Purja completed his historic quest to climb all 14 of the world’s fourteen highest peaks in just six months and six days during 2019, documenting the feat in the Netflix documentary 14 Peaks: Nothing is impossible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did the avalanche happen?
The avalanche occurred on Broad Peak, an 8,047-meter-high mountain in Pakistan’s Karakoram range, at an altitude of 6,600 meters.
Who were the victims of the Broad Peak avalanche?
All ten climbers on the expedition died, including renowned Nepalese mountaineer Nirmal Purja and climbers from Pakistan, Oman, the United States, and China.
What is Nirmal Purja best known for?
Purja was famous for climbing the world’s fourteen highest peaks in record time in 2019, a feat featured in the Netflix documentary 14 Peaks: Nothing is impossible.
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